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Untitled Article
hearers with their intellect . We speak of those for whom the law is made , not of those who do not want it—of the many , not of the few . And on the many—on the great majority—we maintain , that all interference of the state in matters of opinion does produce such results . Hence the marked unwillingness to sustain the unequal combat between reason and authority . Hence the temptation , to insinuate covertly , what must not be asserted
openly ; to wield the weapons of sophistry and cavil , and all the armour of cowardice , * ' willing to wound , but yet afraid to strike . " For an exemplification of the fact , we need not travel far . Look at the system that prevails throughout Protestant Germany , Does she not bind her ministers down to doctrines which have been dismissed by the majority of her Divines ? This is a theme of melancholy importance , and one into which we cannot enter , more fully within our present limits . But the only remedy we can see for
such a state of things would be for the law to allow of no distinctions connected with speculative opinions . It may be said , that there are opinions which would lead to results injurious to the State . Whether such a state be the most perfect or not , we will not now stop to inquire . But we know this , that such effects would be amenable to the law . Or , if the law does not take cognizance of them , they will not escape the denunciation of a Free Press— -they will gradually vanish before the progress of national
intelligence . We cannot concur in those apprehensions which are frequently expressed . It has frequently been our lot to listen to such arguments with respect and attention , but without assent or conviction . We may instance our view of the case in the " Catholic Question . " The probable consequences of emancipation must depend on the motives by which emancipated Catholics would be likely to be guided . Are these motives honourable and candid ? They can hardly fail of leading to enlightened
sentiments , and to the abandoning of prejudice . Are they of a more vulgar cast , and interested ? Then we would plead , that St . James ' s is nearer at hand than the Vatican ; that an Irish Catholic will provide better for his interest by holding his allegiance to George IV . than to Leo X . But the generality of men will act from mixed motives . Granted ; and it will , no doubt , come to pass that error will rear her head and run unchecked for a while ; that some mischief will be done b y day-light , which would else have been perpetrated by stealth . Fanaticism is playing its
freaks even in America ; and , by the bye , our very next paper will state a " pretty particular" case of it . But is it error alone that has power over the minds of men ? Is truth nothing ? Has not error been supported principally by an appeal to the selfish interests , to the sordid passions of men r Has not truth triumphed over all those obstacles ? Let those obstacles be removed—take away the props of error—the patronage of falsehood—the barriers to improvement ; do not set a man ' s interest at variance with his conscience ; and we are willing to abide by the issue .
If these lines should ever meet his eye , we are sure that John Bowring will take them in good part . And we may hope the same from the eminent Divine , from whose school we have freely intimated our dissent—though we trust that we are not strangers to the admiration commanded by his varied learning and unparalleled acumen , or to the veneration due to a long and active life devoted to Truth , the Whole Truth , and nothing but the Truth .
Untitled Article
Opinions of Continental Protestants on the Catholic Question , 605
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1828, page 605, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2564/page/21/
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