Plain Truth About Mexico
D., Right Reverend Francis C. Kelley, D.
August 4, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 32 PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT...
...Presumably regime of Spain, a foundation of educational institutions these are for her "legitimate spiritual work...
...The revolutionists know it...
...All these have done splendid percent of the Mexican people...
...She is not responsible for the "liberals" Marked by the flowering of tremendous powers who are eating the heart out of American Protestant- Wherein some musing, unconjectured rhymer ism...
...They would apply, no persecution of religion," etc...
...religious purposes and, in case of the seizure of said As a matter of fact, the laws were made by a military property, no trial by jury could be allowed if the robbed junta and the Mexican people never had a chance to owner appealed to the courts...
...It is easy to make the "gringo" was as welcome in the State Department under Bryan swallow anything if it is covered with the sugar of a as he was in the street...
...The American who added hurt to the Catholic Church...
...August 4, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 323 Wright, however, will be silent about that now...
...Gratuitous assertions are offered and stands out of a galaxy of falsehoods on every page as incontrovertible facts...
...is right in Mexico, it is right in any attempt at democThe Methodist form of public worship would be subracy, and ours is more than an attempt...
...Vide the fact that the Reverend ment is "simply trying, strongly backed by the people, Aaron Saenz, a clergyman, is nevertheless a member of to carry out the law...
...Bishop Cannon's church in the people of Mexico from the worst form of savagery America builds churches, founds and conducts schools, on earth, as well as from the greed of conquerors...
...Mexico a democracy...
...He holds that a church which was bound in Of Petra, Timgad, Tadmor in the waste"A thousand buried hates and loves and pities chains for one hundred years is responsible for Mexico...
...Herring, wrote that No Methodist minister would be allowed to vote...
...It is the simple unpaid...
...Let us tell the Methodist deaconesses or missionaries making a promise American public how it would work out here at home to devote themselves to their work for life, or even temif we went at it in the Mexican way...
...She has to be hated...
...While he weeps over the Mexican Indian, who and the sanctity of private property, I here and now believes in Christ and follows his heart to the altar, offer them the opportunity to make good-if they can...
...property held by religious bodies...
...Where, then, will the Church carry on The Catholic Church preserved the Indians and saved these spiritual activities...
...The way to the removal of one party or for their spiritual welfare...
...policy of the Wilson administration was the proof Old Voltaire's hint is well worked...
...There are plenty of both...
...The Catho- gave them work to do and promised them a free hand, lic Church will, they know, never consent to the smash- in spite of the law, to bring Mexico into the "pure ing of the Ten Commandments...
...Frueauff is an attorney for the Mexican con- the services of a clergyman of his own nation...
...This sulate in New York, not one of the unpaid...
...ing missionary work in the history of the world since the days of the early Christians...
...They have no which suits a nation by giving its people happiness intention of having it now or in the future...
...This is the way the Mexican plan would function No Methodist clergyman could validly officiate at a in America with, say the religious denomination in marriage...
...The American investor in Mexico of the lies have stuck...
...He laments that in some such manner the school...
...The Mexican politician could rob a people for their own private gain...
...troversy...
...foreign trade for our industries, who found oil for our So the game goes merrily on...
...That they cannot do with perfect safety with him when Uncle Sam's back was turned...
...It was not trust its fortunes to the changing opinions of the powerful enough to do it in certain countries that populace, as witness our own alleged "tyranny over embraced the doctrines of Luther...
...They themselves are shrewd enough war abroad...
...Frueauff insists, also, that the effort of the Mexican No Methodist minister could publicly advocate prohibition or anything else that would involve political actit,n or government is only an attempt to separate Church speech...
...With it came the Federation of Labor and those who charge her with oppression-the fact that, even some Catholics whose political ambitions outin spite of everything, she is still the church of 98 weighed their principles...
...If the principle porarily, would be subject to arrest, fine and imprisonment...
...One answer alone is her answer to it cheap...
...religious denominations which recently returned from Violations of the above would be permitted, of courseMexico, after investigation, reported that there was but not in the case of Methodists...
...That ernment, down to the poorest chapel in the smallest town particular lie did not stick...
...The Wilson administration did not go to know that the only way for them to make it is to so far in loving the Mexican revolutionist as to trust steal it...
...ing to the manager and commission plan, a step away Fanaticism was then the war-cry, but the stake was from the free-for-all that in the past gave them graftpower...
...has done nothing for Mexico, but, on the contrary, is responsible for its present condition, for illiteracy in I T IS easy enough to unravel the tangled web of the people and the degradation of their social and the Mexican religious question, but when thus un- political institutions...
...People must be prepared for democracy by of reasons, and what she still fears, is the lie...
...No MethoMr...
...Will he advocate the confiscation The successive revolutionists in Mexico, from Hidalgo of his own buildings...
...Voltaire them...
...Every now know that there is a majority here who, if they do and then a feeler is put out to see if it is safe to invite not hate, yet do dislike her...
...higher ambitions...
...tain basic falsehoods or half-truths as accepted and Mexico is less fitted for such a democratic form not-to-be-controverted principles...
...He knows Mexico intimately through leader in Mexico has always been the bloody way...
...Signor Benjarano, a "former officer Methodists would have the use of only some of the buildof the Mexican Education Department"-the Lord ings, but according to the judgment of a government save us!-said in Current History for July that officer who might be a Baptist, a Catholic, a Jew, or $27,000,000 of Mexican gold went to Rome and Spain an atheist ; and then only for as long a time as the government wished and no longer...
...They have accepted Current History's symposium on The Church and special favors granted to them by officials who were thereState Conflict in Mexico, one can understand the depth by violating their oaths of office and making themselves of unreasoning and bitter hatred of such as he for the guilty of contempt for the legislation they had sworn to Church that is the Mother of Christendom...
...But the editor Methodist minister could hold public office ; but violaof Current History let the lie go through, of course...
...other sort of temporal gain, to tear her out of their But that is not all...
...American cities, for example, are comdoctrines of the reformers the weapons of princes...
...All Methodist churches in the United States, with their contents, would be confiscated by the federal gov- I have touched only the high spots...
...Vide case of Dean Peacock and the that "the committee of representatives of different British Embassy...
...August 4, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 32 PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT :MEXICO AN EXPOSITION AND A CHALLENGE By RIGHT REVEREND FRANCIS C. KELLEY, D.D...
...There is lower California with its magnificent and intolerance against her in the United States...
...At least that is the way millions to the wealth of our country, who developed the Mexican politician reasons...
...out of whole cloth, and a lie that is no compliment The second falsehood put out by the Mexican revo- to us, for it is based on the conviction that we have lutionists is the statement that they are really giving neither sense nor intelligence enough to see through it...
...A nation at war canstrument of the breaking was falsehood...
...President has succeeded Oklahoma...
...The triumph of the revolutionists the Mexican problem than Bishop F. C. Kelley, of Tulsa, took place a century ago...
...The Jap at least has no hallucinapeople they rob...
...In a tion princes of Germany and from the Revolutionary democracy a majority is only the sentinel over the leaders of France...
...Before the ink was however, to Jews, Mohammedans, and Shintoists...
...I take one passage from his to history, so little documented as those to which I article which merits special attention as a falsehood have been referring...
...money, he invested a little for great returns...
...little hope for an American-Japanese war under presThe politicians must take it when they can no longer ent conditions...
...One is that she is known to have the affec- same time...
...Therefore, the Methodist church -the Methodist would have no legal rights that anyone would be bound to respect-and so on...
...In fact he hates us even more than he hates reason for persecuting the Catholic Church and help- the Catholic Church...
...ingly give them up...
...Let him look over at the orgotten Cities South Sea Islands of the Pacific and the fruits of Protestant missionary activities amongst the dying natives Thus saith the spirit of forgotten citiesthere...
...The blind the "gringo" with prejudice to his own undoing...
...The great war taught ning over three or four hours, revealed a distinct poshim the value of propaganda and, since he had the sibility that here also amity may come...
...They began by laying down cer- rights of both minority and majority...
...precisely exceptional circumstances only is it the best, and even to the days when religion was made excuse and justi- these exceptional circumstances have no assurance of fication in a struggle for political power, and the permanence...
...In peace, democracy, to be successful, requires put it frankly and forcibly: "Lie, lie...
...He found the Cannons and the Inmans tion and devotion of the Mexican people and is, there- and the Tuppers and the Millers and the Foxes...
...Incidentally, All Methodist schools would be confiscated...
...The "gringo" in- Mexican politician keeps up his hope...
...Well, no one bound his church at home...
...But their pro- and surely will, go on talking about it, but the past nouncement for democracy had the advantage of being hundred years tell their story as faithfully as present attractive, especially to Americans who are prone to conditions tell it today...
...The Mexican politician understands...
...This charge is made by all raveled the blind prejudice of the years will still propagandists for the Mexican government, paid and prevent most people from seeing...
...Some of it knowledge for the correct use of the governing ballot, will stick...
...freak sects, and hopeless religious divisions...
...he preaches in the open air...
...She is hated have that without even the asking, and thus it went by the politician...
...In turn I The purpose of the Mexican government has not been offer statements, but statements that I am prepared to and is not today to prevent anyone from preaching or substantiate with documented evidence from giving religious instruction to children...
...so they watch their chances and study tions about the value of the Doheny tanks at Pearl the ground...
...Even then he put Rome in by this simple be assigned to other uses or to a national church subprocess: if Rome got any offering at all from the sidized by the federal government for the purpose . of Church in Mexico, as the Salvation Army in England putting the one that owned and erected the buildings out gets something for the support of its international of them forever...
...He discovered in type, the Papal Delegate with the peace palm in the value to him of the American Protestant mission- his hand was on his way to the border-expelled...
...But New York is not Mexico...
...He Wright spoke without a knowledge of the real plans found "gringos" that he could buy for cash and other of his Mexican friends, for, before his words were "gringos" that he could buy for favors...
...They may, and its institutions stability, is the best...
...It has not Far from being a failure in Mexico, the Catholic attempted to prevent the Church from controlling what- Church there began, and carried on for three centuries, ever amount of property is necessary for its legitimate the wisest, most zealous, most productive, and most elevatspiritual activities...
...that go very well...
...Wonderful...
...One lie respect and enforce...
...Never once have the Mexican The Catholic Church is dragged into this mess of 322 THE COMMONWEAL August 4, 1926 personal ambitions called revolutions for different ary and the weakness of that zealous person at the reasons...
...What is still 324 THE COMMONWEAL August 4, 1926 in the valley, or follows logically from the above, any- the divorce statistics, the common-law marriages, the one may work out for himself...
...which Bishop Cannon, another of Current History's In the eyes of the state, there would be no such thing authors of its Mexican symposium, is a shining light- as a Methodist church...
...He wants us to believe that...
...She may be silent under per- the Catholic Church into outer darkness...
...All intelligent Mexicans know that...
...But Church publish any comment on the laws or legislation that imand state have been separated for a century in Mexico...
...government for all nations and therefore for Mexico...
...Where did he get his figures...
...They never did have a They ignored the truth that the form of government democracy, though they promised it...
...All Methodist papers would be forbidden to and state...
...He fore, a menace to robbers and spoliators...
...Chester M. ships and saved our own fields from quick depletion, Wright, of the Pan-American Federation of Labor, was referred to as "the fellow who lost a cow in says: "The Papal Delegate in Mexico understands Mexico...
...He ex- I shall not need to go any further for proof of my hibits a hatred far from justified by zeal for his own statements than testimony given under oath before a doctrine...
...These have resisted service in the uncomfortable task of pulling tons of all efforts, backed by money and power and every chestnuts out of a fiery furnace of license and theft...
...They find that the Catholic Church is Harbor, even if some of our own politicians have...
...But Mr...
...and personal observation...
...ject to revision and change by the federal authorities...
...for democracy is not license the foundation of the fight against religion in Mexico...
...They Magdalena Bay open for immigration...
...Yet the the Church keeping her influence...
...of the Mexican Constitution regarding the holding No Methodist clergyman could lawfully officiate at of Church property, "but the general idea that the the funeral of any other Methodist in a cemetery, even federal government has the power of control over the if the ground were his own property...
...To persecute the Catho- do the rest...
...secution, but she is there, an offense to the eyes of Then came a bigger discovery-the "liberal" elemurder and a standing rebuke to those who would ment here in our midst...
...The Catholic Church never has feared and devotion to ideals, with a patriotism founded on discussion...
...She is not responsible for the empty cradles, CLINTON SCOLLARD...
...The Catholic Church has, of course, lic Church, they think, is to please the poor foolish nothing to do with that-except in so far as persecut"gringo...
...Time will a chance to secure sympathy...
...The Catholic Church did not give America its deniers of the Divin- Ages may pass into an age sublimer ity of Christ...
...Let him look at the desire to continue their efforts of apology for those 65,ooo,ooo unchurched here in America, fallen-away who are trying to crush out of existence the American Protestants, and ask himself who is responsible for principles of religious liberty, freedom of the press, them...
...He much better than American Catholics what the trouble may not be able to make money by legitimate means has been about, and two conversations with him, runin industry, but he is no fool...
...He is wise enough to make money but there is why we kept troops on the border while we were at his wisdom ends...
...Am I Funny, is it not, to note that Bishop James H. violating charity if I suggest that Bishop Cannon do Cannon, Jr., a Methodist dignitary, is in favor of all a little thinking before he hurls a failure charge at this-for Mexico and as applied to the Catholic someone else ? Church...
...No Methodist could hold title to any property that us to think that these laws were made by the Mexican the government suspected might be used or held for people, submitted for their approval and received it...
...Democracy demands weapon passed into the hands of those who, later on, clear heads and the unselfish and intelligent use of were to attempt the smashing of all religion...
...education and training...
...has training colleges for her clergy, possesses orphan- The Catholic Church gave Mexico, throughout the ages, asylums, universities, and hospitals...
...Alas l the vote of the people seminaries would be allowed in which to give them their stopped it...
...He has a pet dream of an alliing her enemies...
...truth to say that the unraveling cannot start with No sane student of history or political economy Mexico...
...There would be no more Methodist ministers proposed new constitution of the State of New York after those now living are dead, because no theological had not been adopted...
...The Church had to be broken and the in- ing mayors and venal aldermen...
...Which means that he wishes the cabinet of President Calles...
...Under the consequences of which are still with us...
...No the committee had said no such thing...
...He throws his Scripture out the window and committee of the Senate of the United States and pubrevels in animosity that would cause the author of that lished by the American government...
...His article in Current History for July is an I never read any articles, offered as a contribution apology for such laws...
...He has no love for these United The revolutionists have another and a very special States...
...One is that democ- of government at the present time than it was a hunracy in republican dress is the only good form of dred years ago...
...stantly of the sacredness of the law, have carried on in After reading Bishop Cannon's contribution to violation of the laws of Mexico...
...And, if they are confiscated, to Calles, have been destroying the Mexican nation by killing its schools, doing away with religion, murdering will he quietly accept arrest and imprisonment when liberty, degrading law, and fostering vice...
...That situation presents the Jap to come as a peaceful immigrant...
...The Mexican revolutionist had hearts and out of their lives...
...She will not play in light of the Gospel"-after they had helped to put the game of robbery...
...The the church of a minority of Americans...
...If the gentlemen wonderful treatise on Charity found in First Corin- who attacked the record of the Catholic Church in thians, to weep in his apostolic grave...
...During his years of service as president of the president since, but still are votes not counted, and Catholic Church Extension Society, he was forced to witness the will of the chief takes the place of the will of the the migration of Mexicans to the United States and to provide people...
...dry on that lie, the chairman, Dr...
...first in a long while-is a challenge which will not be left un- The third falsehood is that the Catholic Church heeded by either friends or enemies.-The Editors...
...but the liberty of all guarded by basic principles of The Mexican revolutionists, from Comonfort to justice set down in a constitution, and laws made by Calles, have learned their lesson from the Reforma- the unselfish action of the people themselves...
...When he is pleased he will not notice the ing her will draw sympathy for her persecutors and hand that steals toward his watch and stick-pin...
...All their talk is a lie made judge all cases from the standpoint of our own success...
...They know Mexican wants to give Japan a foothold on this conthat there are frequent outbreaks of old-time bigotry tinent...
...In turn, that public opinion" in the late war...
...in one year...
...tions of this rule would be permitted in the case of others The same Mr...
...I give him credit for The missions of the Protestant sects of the United enough zeal to go forth and preach on the streets if States in Mexico, the sects whose leaders here talk conhe cannot preach anywhere else...
...Many refugees from the revolution were also aided materially through his kindness...
...He did not get it free, of course, but he got and her destiny...
...after another falls from his vindictive pen...
...That is a fool...
...Mexico through the pages of Current History-with Bishop Cannon charges the Catholic Church with an advantage presented by the editor of four to onebeing a failure in Mexico...
...It is her fate to him...
...What she has feared, and with the best both...
...But there is vestor is fair game...
...Frueauff said that the Mexican govern- than Methodists...
...let him ask what Protestantism has done for-and to-the American Indian...
...The Mexican has that they were right, and our present policy does not thus far had fine proof that he was right, for some prove them wrong...
...say yes or no to a single one of them...
...posed these burdens upon them, or to criticize those He opines, too, that there is nothing in the provisions responsible...
...Bishop Kelley there is no sign that it will not be the bloody way for has written about Mexico before, but the present paper-his another generation...
...It is learning how to obey...
...The Pacific is a wide body of water rob their own people, but they must take it, if pos- and Elk Hills oil is stored as fuel for war-ships where sible, with even the sympathy of the nation whose it can be reached...
...He has made money in Mexico...
...In our unwritten records might be traced...
...But there are other lies on the great American desert...
...Frueauff defends this as an excellent plan for us dist clergyman would be allowed to teach in a primary to imitate...
...work and its general administration expenses from No Methodist clergyman could lawfully officiate in the United States, the amount, though small, could be these churches unless native-born-alas for Ontario!added to what was sent to Spain and the lie planted and no Methodist of a foreign nationality, even if unthat they shared alike...
...able to speak the language of the country, would be allowed Mr...
...He states would apply even to such foreign diplomats as desire to attend church...
...Will of all kinds almost equal to those of Europe in that day, he accept his dictum on Mexican conditions and will- and superior to those then existing in the United States...
...She has had no hand in the fundamentalist con- May say the same of cities that are ours...
...No one has followed more studiously the development of people had that...
...They are convinced that the "gringo" ance with our colored people and with the Jap...
...Out of Some of these confiscated Methodist churches would his head...
...It must go back to ancient controversies, believes democracy to be the best form of government the facts of which have now passed into history, but for all peoples and under all circumstances...
Vol. 4 • August 1926 • No. 13
