The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-15

welcomed, ostensibly without regard TO
race, color or creed Yet It would be
impolitie 10 attempt 10 locate anywhere
in that country a class OF people who
desired 10 be recognized as antagonistic
to the established religion OF that coun-
try. which is that of the Roman Cath
ole. Neither should foreigners go there's
and insist upon the natives adopting
their manners and customs. nor to criti-
else and reverse conditions that have
existed for three centuries. Substantially
the church and the state are one and
the same IN Peru. As the existence Of
each depends upon the other. they may
be relied upon to stand firmly together,
not only in Peru. but in all that land.
The state officials are not at all jealous
in defense of their church: IN fact. do
not recall ever hearing an official ex-
press an opinion on the subject. beyond
an admission of his Catholicism. when
questioned
The Courteous Padres.
The padres. or priests. are seldom
! bigOted. but as a rule are most cour-
teous TO travellers. offering without aues-
( ton the hospitalities OF their houses,
and as they are of the best and well
stocked for good living. J made it a
/ ping place. The people Of some Of the
interior villages are fanaeical. and dis
posed 10 excuses. but are easily con-
trolled by the padres.
] 1t should not be infet1.d that one
/ reared a Protestant is incaned to eulo-
gize the Catholic religion especially the
practice as I have seen it in the lives
Of some Of the priests o. those coun-
tries. but. as a disinterested journalist
who has enjoyed their hospitality. and
lived safely among these once savage
cannibal Indians. 1 am glad OF an OPP
pOrtunity to record my testimony to
the facts, that 10 the missionary Efforts +
of these padres. during Inree centuries.
has resulted the redeeming OF this
beautiful land and TIE people from bar
ba-ism to a condition of civilization,
which may be incomplt te. but in many
respects equals that OF our own boosted
civilization.
In discussions OF this subject l have
frequently been reminded by friends
that the teachings OF the Catholic
Church do not develop or advance a
country remaining under its influence;
perhaps this is more largely d question
OF latitude or climate and OF previous
race conditions than of religious in
AlhFhNC- nc Spanish people VIII ans
that If the Anglo-Saxon had occupied
this southern continent and they the
north the conditions would be the same.
and that we do rot give our superior
climate the proper credit for its in
fiuence on our lives. These people claim
.hat they have done better for the
Indians of this continent than we have;
that they were not killed of TO make
room for our advancing civilization.
They say the Jesuits did not KILL but
through centuries of patient sclf-sacri-
ficing toll. unassisted by home mission
airy societies. they have labored sue
eessfully and disinterestediy for the
Improvement of the Indians. Under the
circumstances. liberal Christians of
other sects. can scarcely censure these
people for protesting against the i'm
porting OF over-zeaious missionaries who
tell the Indian that their previous reli-
gious training has been false
A Spanish Sub-Prefect.
A frequent caller during my illness
was the sub-prefect of the district. a
middle-aged Spanish Don. well posted on
the doings of the outside world. whom
I found most congeniaL He supplied me
with a good bit OF valuable information
about the mineral wealta OF the sur
rounding mountains. But this not being
in sight, like the natural products OF
the forests ard the ayr cultural posi-
bilities. l can only recite the testimony
of these gentlemen OF repUte. who insist
that the gold and copper ores which they
exhibited are more valuable than can be
estimated. and the location possesses
the advantage Sf being easily aceessi-
bic. with good natural drainage and
abundant water power 10 operate. 1t
is certainly an extra bonanza to find
gold in a country that supplies every
thins else that Is needed TO make life
happy. l record the subprefect's note
from my notebook. in his own hand
writing, referring TO the location:
''Sinami Pampa situada oil Cerre de Santa
Domingo" also the names and addresses
of two Spanish miners, in their own
writing namely, Elias Linares anG
Luis Felipe del CASTILLO Cerro de Frau
coma.