The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-28
POPE CRITICISED
For His Inasion Respecting Re-
llglous Liberty in
SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES,

lSUUlti AMEtlGAN CUUNlMEo,
Whsrs Protsstants are said 70 b Dls.
sriminatea AEainst-Isttsr. Addressed
% Him BY srsthodist lIInistsrS Unan.
swsroa-gruitls.s EGOrt 70 secure Mis
AidinRsmOyins RsliEiousRs.tristions.
Cardinal Rampoua Ezpiains Thnt the
Pope Can DO Nothing In the Matter.
CHICAGO, April 21.-At the Metho-
dist ministers meeting to-day Rev.
John Lee, chairman OF the committee
on religious liberty for Protestants in
South America, read the following:
The committee presents this morning
Cardinal Rampolla's letter and cnrdl-
nal Gibbons translation. The com-
mittee has deemed It wise to give a
brief and clear presentation Of its work
from the beginning:
The Chicago Methodist ministers
meeting, April 2, 1894, appointed com-
mittee to invite the pope's attention to
the fact that "our Protestant brethren
in the republics of Peru, Ecuador, and
Bolivia labor under oppressive dlsablll-
ties that effect not only the profession
of their faith and the public worship OF
God according TO the dictates OF their
conscience, but also their civil and In
alienable right to be legally married
without being compelled to forswear
their religious convictions, and to re-
spectfully and earnestly request him TO
secure for these Protestants "the same
liberty Of conscience that ls enjoyed by
Roman Catholic citizens Of this coun-
try"
Two letters were written archbishop
ireland, each containing stamped en-
yelope addressed to the writer, asking
him II he would have the goodness to
bring this action 20 the notice Of Cardl-
nal SatollI, apostolic delegate OF the
pope to the United States. To none Of
these letters did Archbishop Ireland res
ply. A letter was addressed TO Cardinal
satolli in washington. To this the
apostolic delegate did not reply A sec
ond communication was sent to Cardl-
nal SatollI, and In reply he said: The
enclosed copy Of the encyclical letter OF
our holy father Is, think, the most
fitting reply can make"
This reply not being satisfactory 20
the committee, 1t was then decided to
communicate directly with the pope
himself. Two registered letters were
sent to Leo XIII, one in August, 1854,
and the other in the following Decem-
ber. To none of these letters did Pope
Leo reply April %, 1895, q registered
letter was addressed to Cardinal GLIB
bons in Baltimore. To this his emil
nence did not reply. AS soon as the
committee learned that the Cardinal
Archblshop OF Baltimore had started
for the eternal city o second registered
letter was addressed to him in care Of
Pope Leo XIII. To this his emlnenee
did reply.
The Matter Referred.
Cardinal Gibbons, in Q letter from
Rome, dated June Il, 1895, says that he
has referred the matter OF the dlsa-
bllltles Of Protestants in Peru, Ecuador
and Bolivia to the cardinal secretary Of
state" In this letter Cardinal Gibbons
Incorporated communication from the
cardinal secretary Of state. This COM
munication, after observing "the letter
written 10 your emlnenee by Mr.. Lee, OF
Chicago, has reference TO state Of
things solely dependent upon the civil
laws in force in the republics Of Peru,
Ecuador and Bolivia" states. never
theless, as your eminence has been
pleased to communicate to me the said
letter, have written to the apostolic
delegate In the above named republics,
to obtain precise information concern
ing the laws which affect the condition
OF Protestants there, as regards both
the exercise Of their religion and the
celebration OF marriages" and then
gives the assurance that the cardinal
secretary OF state will call the atten-
tion OF the Holy See to the Information
which the aforesaid delegate win send"
Three registered letters have been
sent from this city to Cardinal Ram
polla, secretary OF state for Leo %Il1.
pleasantly reminding him Of his prom
lse, and asking him II he would have
the goodness to call the pope'a atten-
tlon to this important matter at the
earliest point Of time, and then COM
municate to the COMMITTEES the decision
reached. Communications from the
postoffice authorities In the city of
Rome, convey the intelligence that
these letters safely reached their desti-
nation This intelligence from the post
Office authorities 10 the only knowledge
that the committee has that these let.
secretary of state. A few days later a
letter arrived from the cardinals sec.
rotary, in which he said: His emil
nence begs to acknowledge your es-
teemed favor OF November H. In reply
his emInenOe desires me to say that up
to the present he has received no fur
ther information on the subject. The
full correspondence ho has already
communicated to you In a previous let
ter. Since then he has received no word
on the subject from any one. Anything
in future, interesting to you, that he
may receive, he Will find great pleasure
in communicating to you"
Another Letter Seat.
March 2, 1885. a third letter was nd
dressed to Pope LEO XIII, on the
eighty-slxth anniversary Of his birth,
inviting his attention to the fact that
the Chicago press has strongly en-
dorscd the movement to secure religious
liberty for Protestants In South Amer
icn; the words OF strong encouragement
concerning the wisdom OF this move
ment. and the stern necessity OF II, come
from persons OF international reputa-
tlon, which greatly cheer the COM
mlttee; that among these are poets,
phIinnthropists and dlvlnes, soldiers,
statesmen, and historians, and the
lender Of the largest and most infucn-
tinl organization OF women. On the
next day, March ,, the eighteenth ami
versary OF Pope Leo's coronation, reg
ister0d letter from Baltimore reached
It's destination. II contained two COM
munlcntions; one the long looked for
letter from the papal secretary OF state,
a,,J tho nti,ot the fnllnN,inrs letter from