The evening times., 1899-01-12

much interested in political matters, that
they preached Spain instead of the Gospel,
and that many displayed the mercenary
spirit. There are many excellent priests in
Porto Rico, and the women and children
are in great part practically Catholic.
When the congregations have come
accustomed 10 sustain their priests tne
Catholic religion viii flourish much more
in Porto Rico than il has under Spanish
rule.
The sacrament of confirmation has not
been administered fer many years in a
| great part OF the island. The bishop rec
entity appointed is said TO be unwilling TO
serve, and there is nesd that our Gov m
ment should show an active interest in
the matter. 1t would seem that a Change
in the ecclesiastical system was too sud-
zen. causing a kind CT paralysis and con-
steTnalIon among a body of men acCus-
tomeG 10 lean on the Government and find
in il their normal means of support. Re
ligion is dead on the island. Whether t
can be revived as living influence is
highly prcblematical. There is little or
no observance of the sanctity of Sunday.
Stores are open, the country people gith-
er into the villages and traffic is far more
active on that day than on any other The
plazas of many towns on "a Sunday morn
ing present InC Inspect Oi d net anu
fair combined. Saturday could readily
be substituted. with great national adj
vantage a day of town traffic for the
country people.
With regard NO education Father Sher-
man says he is not prepared TO make
anything like full report. There are
many schools both in town and country.
Those in The country are poorly and ir-
regularly attended The children are
bright and quick, develop earlier. than
ours and many are capable of learning 10
read and write much sooner than the
American children. The prompt sending
OF teachers of the lower grades, acqualnt-
ed with both English and Spanish, would.
he thinks, be the best step 10 facilitate a
change in the system Of education and TO
enable the rising generation TO become
Americanized
The Catholic colleges. both in San Juan
and Ponce have such d falling off OF sup
port owing to the war, that he can form
no estimate of the work they did and ara
capable of doing. There is no asylum for
the blind who are met on the roadside
begging for bread. There is much more
pubic mendicity than is deemed advisable
10 permit in the United States, and Whlld
individuals are kind and benevolent they
seem 10 lack the principle OF ASSOCIATION
in their efforts to relieve the unfortunate
There is great deal of poverty on the
island. The malformation Of so many
children is due TO imperfect nouTishment.
The great excess of infant mortality is
probably due in part from the same cause.
and some stringent public measures should
be inaugurated 10 ameliorate the condition
of the lower classes.
Father Sherman says the system of bur
ial in Porto Rico has been barbareus. In
places coIpses are thrown into shallow
graves sometimes without box or casket,
when the cemeteries are too small and fire.
quontiy crowded Small vaults are rented
for 2 time and then the bones are gathered
and thrown into a common receptacle.
This should be promptly corrected, ceme-
teries enlarged and permanent aud proper
burial insisted upon. There has been some
friction. owing 10 the fact that the Gene
teries are partly ecclesiastical and partly
civil in character. They seem to be in
tended only Tor those who die in commun-
ion with the Catholic Church, but at the
same time they are under the control OF
the municipalities The state OF morality
can be inferred from the fact that the
number OF illegitimate children exceeds
that of the legitimate. Goncubinaee is
said 10 be common and is not sufficiently
discountenanced, either legally or socially.
The eradication of this great evil presents
one of the most difficult problems IN PoT-
10 Rico owing 10 the mixture OF races there.
II is often asserted that the Catholic
clergy are partly to blame for this deplor-
able state OF affairs because marriage is
said 10 be expensive. This, says Father
Sherman. is calummy. No charge has
been imposed for ordinary marriage cers-
monies and no obstacles thrown in the
way Of legitimate unions save the ordina-
ry ecclesiastical impediments recognized
by Catholics all over the wCrld.
million Of people differing from US in
language literature. tradition customs
and manners welcome lis by reason of po-
Iitical sympathy and sentiment Of conf
dence in cur desire 10 govern for their
coed TO enlarge their liberties, and To in
crease the substantial blessings they en-
JOY without imposing on them any new
burdens. Porto Rico is not 70 be judged
bv he brimmng excitement and manifold
tendencies 10 unrest due TO vast politi-
cal and moral appeal. nor by the acts Of a
few cunning maraudCrs who avail them
selves Of exceptional circumstances 20
vreak private vengeance or TO indulge In
the barbarCus instinct CT destruction. Nor
are We to argue their political incapacity
from factional differences, bur remember
ing that they have cities towns and VIII
lagos and are not waste lands as were
California and New Mexico in 1S4S They
are highly civilized. have thousands of
educated men, able lawyers excellent doc
tors and clever merchants. and manufact-
urers whose establishments aggregate
many millions Of annual output