Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-18
DEFENSE OF ECUADORlANS
Reflections on Their Character Resented by
Resident American.
NOTABLE VIRTUES OF THE PEOPLE
Honesty, Simplicity, Devoutness and
Intelligence Native Character
Intoxicating influence Of
Missionary LabOrs.

PLAYA RIGA, Ecuador. Nov. 1, 189S.-To
the Editor OF The Bee: l have leisure today
to contradict a statement, relating to Ecua-
dor, made by Mr.. Carpenter, your South
American travelling correspondent. in one OF
his recent letters, wherein he dismisses
Ecuador In his ummary Of the west coast
Of South America with the brief. Incorrect
statement: Ecuador Is a priest-ridden
country, 300 years behind the times" The
Germ "priest-ridden" has always been m
thing Of a puzzle to me, but II by this term
d meant domination Of the priesthood,
either In influence or in numbers, In this
Instance. your correspondent is sadly mis-
taken. For several months past / have en-
deavored to secure the services Of a priest
Tor our people and have offered. In addition
to the inducements which ! have always
understood Ia recognized as the special re-
ward Of all clergymen, a substantial salary
In cash of this world, and a good living; but
90 far without success. From all the bishops
I receive the same reply to my offers: 4
have not sufficient priests for the needs OF
my own bishopric." The affairs OF the
province in which we are located are ad-
ministered by a vicar. Even Guayaquil. the
largest city in Ecuador and the principal
seaport, Is without O bishop, ana mas peen
for sometime past.
hovV ktNhaS hheA A"e
called cathedral In Guayaquil, which mercy
only knows why the confiagration OF 1895
spared, and which, by the way, satisfies
ones idea Of a cathedral. both inside and
out, as would Omaha's old Cow shed" and
there saw, as elsewhere throughout the
Christian world. that the worshippers were
women; more than 80 per cent women, all
dressed In that appropriate church costume
consisting of q black manta about the head
which falls in graceful folds over the
shoulders. and a plain black skirt, all OF
which gives one an idea that the women, at
least, are sincere and devout worshippers,
and are not there for the purpose OF criti-
cising a neighbours bonnet. Alongside Of
the cathedral. separated only by a board
partition, is the soldiers barracks. and the
soldier, as a rule, is not overly careful not
10 disturb either the worshipper, the cele-
brant, or preacher. The loud, boisterous
and even profane talk Is easily heard COM
ing from the soldiers quarters. The clatter
OF arms and beat Of drums one might en-
dure. All Of the foregoing. easily sub
stantiated, Is not calculated to prove the
correctness Of your travelling correspond
ent's statement.
Hurried observations.
You should hardly expect your readers
10 form an opinion OF a country or its
people upon the statement OF one VINO nau
not penetrated to the heart Of the country.
Who would care to have a foreign people
Judge US upon a statement OF one COM
missloned to write US up and never go az
Ear west as Omaha, say. Or. to bring 1t
nearer home, who In Omaha would care to
have a stranger, passing through Omaha
on the railroad cars and seeing no more Of
the tow than one may see from the car
windows. carry away the idea that they had
seen Omaha? l recall being greatly an
noyed once in London by a very Intelligent
Englishman who said to me: 90. I know
your country well; I went over to New York
once. saw the Bowery and Broadway. went
up to Niagara Falls, took the Grand Trunk
into Canada and then the Canadian Pacific
out to Vancouver" And yet this man
really was in better position 10 form an
accurate opinion of our people and country
where facilities for intercourse with re-