Mr. Sampson to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Quito, March 15,
1899.
No. 103.]
Sir: The attached inclosures, 1, 2, and 3, are
largely self-explanatory.
No. 1 is copy of letter received from two American Protestant
missionaries in Quito.
Immediately on receipt of it I wrote a letter to this Government,
accompanying it by a translation into Spanish. Otherwise its contents
might not be known by officials for two or three days, until the
translator got ready to translate it. I then delivered it in person, to
see its effect, which was most salutary and effective. I was then given
positive assurances, orally, by the minister of foreign affairs (and
Vice-President and Acting President Cueva, who happened to be present)
that prompt and active steps should be taken for the protection of
American missionaries and the punishment of offenders.
This personal assurance was followed by a very satisfactory official
answer. (See inclosure 3.) Unofficially I have learned that soldiers
were detailed to go to the cathedral and other churches to hear if any
more denunciation of Protestant missionaries should be indulged in,
while police were sent to protect their homes. They have suffered no
further molestation. Nine arrests have been made and the offenders are
in jail awaiting trial.
Missionaries in China or Turkey were never in more imminent peril.
Prompt, decisive action of the Government is all that averted a killing
of the missionaries here—nine in all.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Messrs. Tarbox and
Fritz to Mr. Sampson.
Dear Mr. Sampson: It having come to our
knowledge that the priests were using the pulpit of the cathedral to
excite the people to kill us, we asked a friend, Señor Pablo J.
Guteirez, to go and listen to what was being preached.
To-day at the noon service a priest by the name of Matens gave a most
inflammatory address, using the following significant language:
“If the Virgin Mary does not convert them it is necessary that they
be taken out of the city, and if not, they must be destroyed.” Last
Wednesday similar language was used. Already we are seeing the
fruits of such malicious words, for Thursday evening last a large
crowd came to our house, bent on mischief, using the most [Page 260] threatening language, such
as “Kill the Protestant devils,” etc. Everything indicated that we
would have suffered bodily harm if the police had not interfered and
driven them away. Our windows also have been stoned.
In view of the above facts, we, as American citizens, feel it
necessary to ask you to take what steps you may think proper to stop
such preaching and to give us proper protection for life and
property.
Yours, faithfully,
- E. B. Tarbox,
- W. G. Fritz,
Christian and Missionary Alliance of
New York.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Sampson to
Mr. Peralta.
United States Legation,
Quito, Ecuador, March 11, 1899.
No. 66.]
Sir: I have in my possession unquestioned
proof of outrages perpetrated against the house and person of
Protestant missionaries in this city, citizens of the United States,
within the last week by citizens of Ecuador; and more, that within
the same time Catholic priests have publicly proclaimed in the
cathedral of this city in the hearing of many people that these
“Masons,” meaning “Protestant missionaries,” “must be stopped
preaching, must be gotten rid of in some way,” by such language
inciting fanatical and evil-disposed persons to take their
lives.
I now officially advise you of these outrages, and notify you that if
harm comes to any of said citizens of the United States the
Government of the United States will consider itself as the injured
party, and govern itself accordingly.
Prompt, concerted, efficient action on the part of your Government
can stop such preaching, punish the offender, and prevent insult and
harm to citizens of the United States.
If you desire my cooperation in any manner, please advise me at
once.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Mr. Peralta to
Mr. Sampson.
Quito, March 13,
1899.
No. 43.]
Mr. Minister: I have carefully noted your
kind dispatch, No. 66, in which your excellency notified me of the
danger that threatens the Protestant missionaries in consequence of
the preaching of some Catholic priests.
In answer, I have the honor to communicate to your excellency that I
have to-day sent to the illustrious archbishop of this archdiocese
to put a stop to such irregularities; and also to the general
director of the police, ordering him to inflict the punishment
provided by law for such wrongs.
I have, etc.,
