Another Item of Roman Catholic Policy.
By Uriah Smith
The majority of the inhabitants of Newfoundland favor annexation to the United States; the minority oppose it. The minority are Protestants, the majority are Roman Catholics. Dr. J. P. Newman, in the Methodist of Oct. 21, 1871, explains this disposition on the part of the people. He says: “One of the leading priests came on board the Congress and enthusiastically exclaimed: ‘I hope soon to see the American flag wave over this island.’” And he continues: “In their enthusiasm there is something more than love for our institutions. It is the policy of the Catholic church to push the annexation, not only of Newfoundland, but of Central and South America, together with the islands of the sea, where Catholics are in power, and thereby increase their numerical and political strength in the councils of our nation.” This is the idea now uppermost in the Catholic world to get the control of this government. Losing power and prestige in the old world, that church now looks to this nation as the only hope. It would be to them a very gratifying compensation for their loss of supremacy in Europe, if they could secure it upon this continent.