RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN SOUTH AMERICA. [To THE EDITOR OF THE
"SPECTATOR.")
Silt,—In a communication that I have received from the Hon. David J. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States of America, is enclosed a copy of a despatch from the United States Minister to Peru to the Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State, dated Lima, Peru, October 23rd, 1902. The closing paragraph of this despatch says :—
"A Bill to so amend the Constitution as to guarantee freedom of public worship to all creeds was introduced early in the present Session, but has been excluded from consideration by the party wrangles which have absorbed the time of both Chambers. In order to operate as a Constitutional amendment, the Bill would have to be passed in two consecutive Sessions. I do not doubt that the amendment is one which the majority in Congress would have favoured, and that the anomalous conditions ascribable to religious intolerance are disappearing in practice, as they must at no distant day from the protection of the law. In sending you these lines, I refer to the Department's unnumbered instruction of July 14th last, enclosing copy of a letter from the Rev. John Lee to the President with relation to the freedom of public, worship in Peru."
In view of this somewhat encouraging state of affairs in Peru, you would render distinguished and abiding service could you
find your way clear further to enlighten and instruct the statesmen of that Republic as to the moral and political necessity of so amending their Constitution as to guarantee freedom of public worship to all creeds. Were it known there that the subject engaged the attention of British statesmen and publicists the consummation would be hastened, and that favourably to religious toleration.—I am, Sir, &c.,
[We gladly publish Dr. Lee's letter, but we fear he greatly overestimates the effect of British public opinion on the rulers of South American Republics.—En. Spectator.]
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