The day following the departure of the allied troops from Manila an
English ship steamed into Manila bay, and among those who landed was
a Jesuit, who came as papal nuncio, a special envoy of the pope,
the astute Leo XIII. He at once hunted up Bishop Lonzello and was
soon closeted with him over wine and cigars, discussing the situation.
"You see yourself the Spaniards cannot stand before the Americans. They
represent the old order, the Americans the new; the old must pass. It
is more than useless, it is folly, to stay with the passing policy."
"But the Spaniards are friends of the church and the Americans are
its enemies."
"I fear you are short-sighted, Brother Lonzello. The Americans are
to be Catholics, while the Spaniards have only been Catholics. A
live dog is better than a dead lion. But the Americans are not to
be despised. The republic is entering on world politics, and if the
Holy Father could control that nation he would as good as control
the world through it."
"But he can never control that nation; it is given to heresy."
"I do not agree with you. Neither does the Holy Father at
Rome. Remember, I am speaking for him. Already we have two million
voters in America. United, that means the balance of power. It is
something that any candidate may well covet. But that is not all. As a
result of this war America will add the Philippines to her territory,
with possibly Cuba and Porto Rico besides. In time, states will be
formed of these territories, and they, being almost wholly Catholic,
will give America to the true religion. It is something worth working
for, and the prospect makes the Holy Father eager that you should
fall in with his plans."
"I can't believe it possible to make America Catholic."
The apostolic nuncio puffed his cigar in silence a moment. Then he
leaned forward and said:
"Suppose we induce the capitalists of America to import a million
Italians to be naturalized. Suppose we secure jobs for a million
Mexicans in America and see that they are naturalized. Suppose that
finally Central America and Mexico are annexed to the United States."
"Why, that is treason to the Latin and the Spanish races."
"No. It is taking advantage of new conditions. America is developed
to the point where it is necessary that she should expand. If she
should dig the Panama canal, it will be natural for her to close
in on territory that divides her, and excuses are more easily
found than grapes in a vineyard. It will aid rather than hinder the
Catholic. American capitalists can pay higher wages than either the
Italians or Mexicans receive and still obtain them cheaper than they
get labor today. Catholic workmen will merely supercede heretics. If
Mexico is taken there will be a leveling up as well as a leveling down,
and the peon will gain immensely by the change."
"But it means an entire change of policy."
"The old policy has been worked to the end, and a new one is
necessary. We are living in an age of machinery. Peon and slave
can no longer yield the returns that the hireling can do by the aid
of machinery. The returns from the Philippines can be quadrupled;
and we were foolish to forego the rich harvest because it involves
a change of tenants."
The friar was flushed and angry. He almost shouted.
"But that means that the Spanish friars are to lose power in the
Philippines. Do you realize what you are asking us to forego?"
"Perfectly. You have had your opportunity and have made a failure of
it. The natives have been rebelling against you for three hundred
years. Now, Aglipay has stirred a schism that has taken from Rome
a majority of our churches. So long as the Spanish friars remain in
power the dissatisfaction will increase rather than diminish. It seems
providential that America should come at this time, for it gives the
supreme pontiff an opportunity to transfer you and by diplomacy save
the work you have done for the church."
The friar sank back in his chair and thought. Then he mildly said:
"It is a hard thing you ask."
"Yes, but your order asked the same thing once of the Jesuits, and,
on order of the Pope, we were expelled from the Philippines for many
years. Now the supreme pontiff is merely exercising his right of
transfer relative to the three orders of friars in the Philippines. It
is his voice, and you will not dare disobey it."
"I suppose, of course, we shall have to submit. But it is hard. Shall
we have to lose our property, our lands?"
"I come with a mission to the Americans relative to them. I have not
talked with the Americans yet, but I can assure you justice. As for
the churches and convents, you have lost them to the church, and it
is part of my mission to regain them for the church."
"I shall have to submit. But I can not overcome my hatred of the
Americans and I will not remain to knuckle to the natives. I wish I
might strike them one hard blow." He brought his fist down on the
table with a thump. The Jesuit was silent a moment. Then he said:
"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. You know the response."
"The lands which the supreme pontiff gave to Legaspi he may take
again from the heirs of Legaspi."
"I can not for the life of me see where the holy church will profit
from the change, seeing that Spain is a Catholic country and America
is heretic."
"Spain will remain true to the church even if she loses. But if America
wins, then we may not only win back into the fold the schismatics of
the islands, but stand also a chance of winning America, and with
it the world. It is the greatest, opportunity the church has had
for years."
"I do not yet see how you expect to win America."
"We have been working for the conquest of America for centuries,
ever since Columbus gave it to the world and dedicated it to Christ
and his viceregent. After the heretics had taken possession of it, we
have labored without cessation to win it back. We brought believing
emigrants to the cities until we control many of them. We now have
ten million population and two million voters, controlling several
states and holding the balance of political power. Already the
politicians are taking cognizance of us, But, more important than
this, the statesmen are looking for a power that can withstand the
tide of Socialism that is sweeping over the land and are ready to
make concessions to us for our influence.
"The most far-seeing of American politicians recently remarked that
some day Socialism would become a menace to the world and that
the strongest influence to combat it would be the Roman Catholic
church. Acting on this belief he has already been negotiating for
our support. It was the Catholic vote that saved America from the
domination of the middle class when threatened by the mob in 1896. It
was members of my order who fanned the flame that led to the present
war, so that America might enter on world politics. The end is not
yet. The Pope sees the importance of our plans, and you must submit. We
intend that in the future it shall be known that he who would succeed
at the polls must have our favor. We have the power now, and we shall
use it. The Brotherhood of Jesus has been banished from almost every
country on the face of the globe, but in spite of this we have remained
loyal to our extreme oath, and have not for a moment faltered in our
purpose to make America Catholic. We are now at the point of success,
and the supreme pontiff sends me to command you to yield. Is your
loyalty sufficient for that? Remember, we have been driven from land
after land, and show yourself as true as the Jesuits have been."
Bishop Lonzello did not reply. But he filled the two glasses, and as
he raised his glass to his lips he proposed the toast:
"Leo, the greatest of Popes. When he speaks it is time for the rest
of the world to be silent."
After the toast had been drunk the Jesuit father referred no more
to the topic about which he had been talking. They were sitting by
the window looking out on the street where quite a few people were
promenading. As one woman after another passed they discussed the
good points of each and waxed merry over the wine, rehearsing many
salacious stories. Finally Ambrosia Lonzello passed. The Jesuit,
looking on her, remarked:
"That is the woman for me. She has the woman's ten perfect points. Do
you know her, Brother?"
The bishop's lips were dry and his heart was enraged as he answered,
feebly, "Yes."
"Can't you give me opportunity to hear her confession?"
The bishop knew what was implied by the request, and his heart was
fired with the heat of his passion. He made a motion once to kick
the Jesuit down stairs. But the knowledge that he was a special
envoy of the Pope, and, more than that, the counter-fire of anger at
Ambrosia, and the fierce flame of his hatred of Saguanaldo, caused
him to desist. Indeed, the first flames had eaten so deeply into his
heart that there was little left for the flame caused by the insult
to touch. He merely answered, quietly, after swallowing a little:
"That is the sweetheart of the insurgent general, Saguanaldo."
"Ah, that is good," responded the Jesuit. "You hate him and would
like to wound him to the death before you go. Behold, the Lord hath
delivered him into your hands. Promise me that the girl shall confess
to me."
He seized the bishop's arm and leered lewdly at him. "You really must,
for I am mad from continence while on the water. Some day I will do
as much for you. Won't you, good Bishop?"
Bishop Lonzello clenched his fist and hissed through his teeth,
"Yes; and may God damn your soul to hell."