The Irish standard., 1900-07-28
The Graceful Act ofan American
Military Governor
CONTRIBUTES TO EDUCATE A PRIEST
The Cubans are Scandalized by
Uncle Sans Soldiers.

In letter from Havana, dated July
I3, the correspondent of the Catholic
Standard and Times, Of Philadelphia,
gives the following interesting informa-
ton concerning affairs in Cuba:
While justice often requires the Cath
olic writer to refer to acts Of bigotry, it
is always more or less painful to him to
do so, and, furthermore, I am inclined
TO think that the continual reading Of
such things is calculated to plunge lis
into utter pessimism.
Sitting out the other evening in front
of one of the Havana hotels enjoying
the cool sea breeze, l heard an Amer
ican. who had just finished reading the
"New York Journal" remark: "New
York must be terrible place. The
people are there killing each other, fall
ing out OF windows, being run over by
electric cars and meeting with all sorts
OF calamities; reading the New York
Journal makes me afraid to venture
back to the city," A similarly false
impression of the standing of Catholics
among their fellow-citizens is liable to
result from the publication OF innumer-
able complaints ratione ccclcsiac from
all parts Of the country Accordingly,
it is with pleasure that | write of the
very graceful act Of General James II.
Wilson, Military Governor of the
province OF Matanzas and Santa Clara,
who recently presented his Spanish
teacher, Father Mcndcz, young Cuban
priest, with purse OF one thousand
dollars to enable him to pursue course
of studies at the Catholic University in
Washington General Wilson is a
Protestant, yet two hundred dollars OF
this sum were contributed by himself
one hundred to honor the memory OF
his lamented wife, another hundred in
honor OF his daughter. The balance OF
the sum was contributed by wealthy
friends OF the general at his request.
Such an act testifes to generosity OF
character and ennobles the man by plac-
ing him on a plane above that large
class OF sinall-minded individuals who
fail to appreciate the worth to society
of an unsclfsh and cultured clergy.
While am upon this subject, permit
me to state that, Notwithstanding the
odious marriage law enacted by General
Brooke, and which is still clinging to
Our island, l am satisfied that General
Brooke is not to be classed among the
bigots. OF course, he cannot be re-
lieved from certain responsibility in
the matter which cannot be too severe
ly condemned, but the consensus OF
opinion among Catholics here is that
the General was trickcd into signing
the order by his secretaries, calling
themselves Cuban Catholics, but of the
same stamp as those who gave us the
same compulsory civil marriage law in
France.
Some Cuban politicians OF this same
ilk who are now in General Woods
cabinet recently proposed divorce law
which, a prominent Cuban, who is a
specialist in comparative legislation, in
forms me, had certain features tending
more to disrupt society than those Of
any divorce law in the world With these
facts before us we can better understand
many things that have taken place in
Cuba
l would likewise wish to remove the
aspersion of bigotry from Professor
Alexis T. Frye, superintendent OF
schools Although it is forbidden to
teacl, religion in the public schools in
Cuba, Professor Frye is in no way re-
sponsiblc for the condition OF affairs;
in fact, I am informed on reliable au-
thority that had the order creating the
schools called for the teaching of cate
chism, he would have made no objcc-
ton. He is simply an educational en-
thusiast. While here he has, when re-
quested, given the benefit of his advice
to private Catholic schools, and even
desired the teaching Sisters to be repre-
sentcd on the trip to Harvard, taking
the ground that it was broad educa-
tional project, which should not recog-
nize any discrimination among those
engaged in instructing the youth Of
Cuba.