The Washington herald., 1911-01-08
Expulsion of the Jesuits
From Portugal Explained
Protest by the Portuguese Provincial Against
Action Taken by the Government.

gle instance succeed in proving. 1 will
not say a solitary crime: but even a
who were clapped into gaols and dun
geons as notorious criminals, exposed to
barbarous sufferings, and for several
days not even permitted any intercourse
with one another. Let it not be said
that all this is but exaggeration pronrpt-
ed by my grief What has been endured
by our eXileS and captives went far be-
yond my simple sketch.
In my own case-of which ! may De
allowed to speak-to say noting OF what
the Society of Jesus has legitimateiy
obtained through its work and admins.
tration ] had at least a right to what
duly Inherited from my parents, with
which I had ACQUIRED personal and landed
estates, all registered in my name: yet
was forced TO leave Portugal without
anything but the clothes on my back.
and even these I owed to friend. for
l possessed no secular dress in which 10
make my escape. I had. moreover. no
money in my pocket. save what was sent
me by stranger who knew me only by
name and sight, and to whom in my exile
I desire to testify my gratitude ,
Treatment in Prison.
As TO the sufferings Of my beloved
brethren ! will only say that in the ar
tilIery barrack which WAS under the con-
troll not of the military. but of the dregs
of the pCpulace. not even a spoon was
given to the prisoners wherewith to eat
their mess of food. that they were al
lowed to withdraw privately but once
in eight hours, and poor invalids to
whom such tyranny might prove fatal
were told that they only sought pre-
text for retirement At night, the guards
threatened to shoot any one who at
tempted to get up. Finally. these WARD
doned women. but these were compelled
to retreat before the calm and dignified
bearing of my worthy brethren. AS 10
their furniture. l will only say that after
ward when. being transferred to CaXais.
they were there provided with mattress
laid on the ground. a hard bolster. and a
single blanket, they thought themselves
in comfort. by comparison.
In a dungeon of the Town Hall. before
their removal to the central prison OF
Lirnovro. some of the captives were still
worse treated, being crammed together,
to the number of twenty-t three. Where
there was scarce room for three or four,
ard they had for five days to breathe
foul air not being suffered to leave the
| chamber. and there being no ventilation
save through one small aperture
I am we'll aware that many omcers
and soldiers coming to know the captlves
manifested toward them not only SYM
however. for which We all desire to re-
cord our heartfelt gratitude. did not him
der the sufferingS endured during hVe
whole weeks.
Outlawed and EXiled.
Nor is this all. When after all these
hardShipS and torments the PROVISIONAL
government set about executing the sem
tence If exile and outlawry against these
Portuguese subjects in whose breasts
there dwelt and still dwells the most
ardent affection for their beloved coun-
try, these men who had bereft us of
! everything who had taken possession of
our goods and land. did not hesitate to
| require that they who by special decree
! were to be driven from Portugal should
pay for their own transport; and when
| one of our fathers ventured to tell one
| of the officers who was more eNiSent
| in this eXaction. that We had no means
of doing 50. he was answered. We'll, We
| shall see; when we squeeze you a bit.
and you begin to tester, you'll hnd a
way
Money was soon forthcoming: for Port
! ugal is not yet entirely in the hands OF
crew whose passions are aroused against
| prosecuted innocence Many families
contributed to supply funds for the jour
| clothing were furnished. and | WAS deep
| ly moved to see many of my spiritual
| children reach foreign lands in the attire
supplied by our well-loved scholars of
Campoiide during their frequent visits
| to their prosecuted masters. In spirit |
salute these benefact6rs. and | shall
| never borget these young men who with
out u hint from us came to the Succor
| of these poor sons of the Society.
! But ere they took the road of exile
there was reserved for them yet one
| more cruel humiliation. Venerable elders,
distinguished me of science. held in re-
! pute at home and abroad. religious ven-
Grated for their virtue. youths still almost
boys. with Innocence stamped on their
| features-all had to go to an anthropOme-
| trio station and to be treated like nOtori-
Gus criminals, being described, photo
| graphed, and measured in every detail.
! down to the joints Of their fingers. The
| photographs ,hen appeared in The news
papers. with the number assigned to each
| rs to convict | cannot refrain from
special protest against proceeding so
! incredibly veNatious.
| One circumstance in the persecution yet
| remains TO be exhibited. 4 decree with
| the force of law published by the pro-
| viSional government on October 10 re-
vokes all exceptional legislation. and in
motive of such revocation that there are
| now no permanent penalties of unlimited
! duration in the Portuguese republic.
| But strange to say. the law Illuminated
against the Society of Jesus is in fiat
! contradiction to this declaration. Against
| us has been issued an exceptional law.
| so odious that one is astounded to think
that in the twentieth century it has been
| possible To institute in full vigor such
| draconian Legislation. and to claim for it
the attribute of most absolute deSpOtisH.
| AS though ii were not enough to show
its palapable opposition to the liberal
| profession Of the new republic. the SEN
| tence which condemns us to exile and de-
prives us of the rights of Portuguese
| subjects is permanent one. solemnly
promulgated with the ruthless formula
| forever"
| Such Is a slight sketch of the tyrannes