Chapter XIII

1600-1753.

AMERICAN MISSIONS.

Our Opinion of the Missions—Praises awarded to the
Fathers—Difference between the Indian and American
Missions—State of the two Countries—Cruelties exercised by
the Spaniards against the Indians—Humane and Christian-like
Conduct of the Jesuits—They Differ from other Monks—The
Indians receive the Jesuits as their Protectors—Wandering of
the Jesuits in making Proselytes—Acquaviva Traces to them a
Plan of Proceeding—They Establish themselves in Paraguay—The
Reductions—Conduct of the Jesuits—The Indians Idolise them—Form
of Government of Reductions—Communism—Mode of Life in the
Reductions—The Indians forbidden to leave the Reductions, and
Strangers to enter them—The Indians drilled to Arms—The Jesuits
accompany and direct them in their Expeditions—Criticism of the
Jesuits’ System in the Reductions—Opinion of Quinet—Our Opinion
differs from that of this celebrated Professor—Well-founded
Reproaches addressed to the Jesuits on account of the
Superstitious Practices Introduced by them into Religion—They
are reproved even by Roman Catholics—Palafox, Bishop of
Angelopolis—He attempts to exercise his Authority over the
Fathers—Privileges of the Jesuits—Letter of Palafox to the
Pope, asking for a Reform of the Society—Persecution raised
against him by the Jesuits continued after his Death—They
Oppose his Canonisation—What are the Causes of Discord between
the Jesuits and the other Orders—Opinion of Gioberti—The
Jesuits want to Domineer over Bishops and Legates—Their
Conduct towards them—Divers Bulls of different Popes on the
Disobedience and Revolt of the Order against the Holy See, 295