The San Francisco call., 1896-01-17
II. w. BOWMAN'S LETTER.
The A. P. A. Champion Compares
the Progress of Protestant and

Catholic Countries.
H. w. Bowman, editor of the American
Patriot, submits the following letter:
OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT,
SO Market street. (
To the Editor of San Francisco CalL-DEAE
SIR: In further substantiation of our charge
that Romanism is barrier 10 civilization and
foe 10 human progress we submit the follow
ing proofs:
A learned French writer, NJ. Emile de Lave
leye, in q mastery book on "ProtestGntism
and Catholicism in their Bearing Upon the
Liberty and Prosperity OF Nations shows
that the wider the range OF facts and the more
rigid the induction the more inevitable is the
conclusion that Romanism is an incubus on
civilization. The phenomenon which this dis
tinguished writer sets himself to solve is thus
stated: 1.-THE fact that Catholic races advance
much less rapidly than those which are no
longer Catholic and that, relatively to these
latter, they even seem to go back appears 10 be
proved both by history end more particularly,
by contemporary events"
The investigation is commenced by an in
quiry as to whether the fact can be accounted
Tor on the basis OF physical constitution or by
the influence OF external nature-the climate,
the geographical position, the products OF the
soil. the aspects OF the country, the food. And
IL is shown conclusively that none OF these
causes-nor any similar cause-can possibly be
assigned as adequate TO the production OF the
actual effect.
When Protestants of the Latin race are seen
to rise superior to Germanic but Catholic
populations; when in one and the same coun-
try, and one and the same group, Identical in
language and Identical in origin. IL can be al
hrmed that ProteStants advance more rapidly
and steadily than Catholics, it is difficult not
TO attribute the superiority OF the one over the
other 10 the religion they profess.
In contrasting Ireland with Scotland he
says:
'It is admitted that the Scotch and Irish are
OF the same origin. Both have been subject to
the English yoke Until the sixteenth century
Ireland was much more civilized than Scot
land. During the first part OF the middle
ages, the Emerald Isle was focus of eiviliza-
tiOn, while Scotland was still den OF bar
barisns"
"Since the Scotch have embraced the re-
formed religion they have outrun even the
English. The climate and the nature OF the
soil prevent Scotland from being rich as
England; but Macaulay proves that since the
seventeenth century the Scotch have in every
way surpassed the English. Ireland, on the
poor, miserable, agitated by the spirit of re-
! bellion, and seems incapable of raising herseli
| by her own strength.
"Whst contrast, even in Ireland, between
the exclusively Catholic Connaught and Ulster
! where Professionalism prevails!
| "ulster is enriched by industry, Connaught
! presents picture OF desoiation."
Passing over the contrast presented by a
! comparison OF the United States and the States
| OF south America, or OF the nations of the
North with those OF the South of Europe; lest
any one should suppose that the differences
which are 10 De observed might be explained
! by the influence OF climate or of race NJ. de
Laveleye proceeds to say:
''But let us go 10 Switzerland aud compare
the cantons OF Neuchatel, Naud and Geneva
more particularly before the recent lmmigra-
ZION OF the Savoy Catholics with shat OF
Lucerne, HautValais and the forest cautons.
The former are extraordinarily in advance OF
the latter, in respect of education, literature,
! the fine arts, industry, commerce, riches,
cleanliness, in a word, civilization in ell its
aspects and in all its senses"
Such irrefutable facts are convincing. They
are not the bigoted utterances OF prejudiced
! d. crl.. t,Te
/ clusion NJ. de Hayeleye asserts: Ito the eye OF
every man who desires to consult facts without
a foregone conclusion, it is thus manifest that
| Professionalism is more favorable than Catholi-
cism to the development OF nations"
Rome had chance TO ciyilize Mexico and
South America, II she were able 10 do so. But
did she? Facts prove that the people there are
| but little remove from savagcs. ROmanism
means the loss OF our civilization. Hence we
say the priests OF Rome, No, gentlemel, we
will not allow the United States to be Roman
iZed. The civilization introduced by Spani sh
Romanists upon American soil has been on
trial for centuries. Alongside of it, but
somewhat later, is the civilization intro
duced by the Pilgrim Fathers. One has pined
amid the wealth OF tropical vegetation and
fertile soil, the other has hourished amid the
wintry winds and barren hills OF New Eng
land. One has given to the world mighty
statesmen, noble patriots, learned scholars and
world-famed inventors. The other is famed
for its Ignorance, rude barbarism and eccle-
s1aSClcal ser1dom. One with its vast mines of
silver and gold, with Its splendid rivers and
magnificent harboTs, has dragged its way on
amid peonage and poverty. The other, with
its rocky hills, sandy shores and rigorous
climate, has grown strong and rich and pros
porous. In Mexico, Central and South America
Rome has given the world an exhibition of her
incompetency to ciViliZe. Romes rule has
been marked by ignorance, tyranny, barbarism
and ceaseless revolutions while the other has
given the world q government founded upon
the rights OF humanity, with civil and re-
ligious liberty and laws based upon the consent
! OF the governed. 1t is marked for its cham
pionship of the rights OF humanity, for its ad-
vanced civilization and its pros osperity.
Spain gave TO the countries she coionized the
| inquisition and the Sunday bull-fght, and the
! Pilgrim Fathers gave the other the common
school ana the open Bible. Note the vivid con.
! trast! The Poplsh countries are stunned by
| immigrants as ii ifinfected by the plague, while
| the other has sounding on its shore every yeaI
! the tramp OF millions OF feet of those who have
! ied from lands cursed and blighted by Popery
| to seek light and liberty meath the shadow Of
| our free institutions based upon the word OF
God and the freedom OF conscience. Our sister
republic has lately been making rapid ad
/ vance in freeing herself from the incubus o.
! Popery. The abolition of the ecclesiastical
system OF education and the adoption of the
| state system was fatal blow 10 Popery TheI
| her action in regard to the useless converts
where wealth was boarded, was maste
stroke. The following facts, CLEANED from {
| book entitled "Aztec Land" by II. NJ Bal!ou
will prove that Romanism is a bar TO civiliza
| tlon. He says:
General Porfrio Diaz President of the re
I puOl1C, Is d ludu WHOSE lie the re
spect OF the entire people. His principal pur
! pose is plainly to modernize Mexico. Th
| twelve years from 1876, when he becam
| President, until 1889, when his third tern
! commence, has proved to be the progressiv
age of the republic. The only opposition to hi
| government is that OF the church party led b,
| the Archbishop of Mexico and supported b.
that great army of non-producers, the useles
| priests, who fatten upon the poor and super
| stitious populace. At present this party ha
! no political power or influence, but is working
at all times in secret, silently awaiting a.
| opportunity 10 sacrifice anything or everythin
to the soie interests of the Roman Catholi
| church"
"The political struggle in Mexico" say,
| United States Commis sioner William Elero
| Curtis, ''since the independence of the reput
| lie has been and will continue to be betwee
antiquated bigoted and despotic Romanisn,
allied with the ancient aristocracy, unde
! whose encouragement Maximilian came, OIL
| the one hand, and the spirit of intellectual
industrial, commercial and social progress oil
| the other
"With the overthrow of Montezuma's en-
pire in 1920" says that distinguished nativ
! Mexican writer, Riveray Rio, ''began tn
| rule of the Spaniard, which lasted Just 80,
years. During this time Rome and Spain
priest and king, held this land and pee
pie as joint possession. The greedy han
| was ever reached out to seize alike tn
product OF the mine and soil. The people wer
| enslaved for the aggrandizement ana power G
a foreign church and state. 1t WAS then tha