Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

'242 DANGER IN '1'HJ~ DARK.
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into the pnesthcod, do not establish the fact that, as
a class, they are hypocritical and designing men."
"But such instances are so very numerous; and
taken together with other circumstances, cause me
to look upon Romish priests generally, as men not
to be trusted."
"I must think yon go too far in taking the position
which you have done, that the Catholic clergy, as a
class, are insincere in professing to be friends of
education."
"I would like to know, if sincere, why they do
not manifest some zeal in the cause of popular education
in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Mexico and South
America? Why do they, as respects education, utterly
neglect, and leave in deplorable ignorance the countries
where their faith is established? In Mexico,
where no other religious influence than Popery has
been felt for generations past, the masses are sunk
into the condition of semi-savages, and areshockingly
destitute, alike of virtue and intelligence. There are
a few colleges, as they are called, in Mexico, but in
this country, they would not be considered respectable
primary schools. The clergy of that country are
men of the worst of morals-openly engage in gambling,
drinking, cock-fighting, and such like practices.
Yet large sums of money are annually collected in
Mexico, as well as in many other benighted Catholic
countries, to build up Romish schools and nunneries
in the United States. It is undeniable, that in regions
where the thick darkness of Papal ignorance and