Religious Liberty in Cuba
NEWSPAPER reports are attributing to President Palma, of Cuba, a recent statement that “Cuba is a Catholic country, and should take steps to avoid the advent of Protestants.” The New York Sun, which feels confident that President Palma has been misquoted, points out that such an attempt on the part of the Cuban government would be contrary to the Cuban constitution, article XXV, section 4, of which provides that the profession of all forms of religion and the exercise of all forms of worship shall be free, and establishes the practical separation of church and state. This provision was supported in the Cuban constitutional convention by a large majority, and may therefore be taken as indicative of Cuban sentiment. Still it can not be doubted that in so far as the Roman Catholic sentiment does prevail and in the island, efforts will be made to discourage the incoming of Protestants, as has been done to a marked extent in the Philippine Islands.