The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY,

ROM ISH PERSECUTION.

THE case of the persecution of the MADIAT by
the GRAND DUKE of TUSCANY, for the simple
offence of reading the Holy Bible—an offence of
the deepest dye in the eyes of the Romish Priest-
hood, because it exposes the falsehood and blas-
phemy of their atrocious doctrines—was brought
before the House of Commons on Thursday, on a
motion by Mr. KINNAIRD, for an address to Her
MAJESTY, to take steps for bringing under the
notice of the GRAND DUKE OF TUSCANY the
strong feelings prevailing in England in conse-
quence of the persecution in Tuscany of those who
profess principles held by Her MAJESTY, in com-
mon with the majority of her subjects. The mo-
tion was opposed, we might say, as a matter of
course, by the renegade Quaker and friend of Mr.
BRIGHT, who glories in his perversion to Romish
superstition, and his advocacy of Romish perse-
cution. He attempted to justify the slow torture
of the MADIAI, by alluding to the expulsion of the
Jesuits from Switzerland, and taunted Lord PAL-
MERSTON for not having remonstrated with the
EMPEROR of Russia for the persecution of Nuns at
Minsk. It was a mere ebullition of recrimination,
without one point which could justify or palliate
the act which is now complained of. The motion
was ultimately withdrawn at the request of Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, who recommended the House to
leave the case in the hands of the Government.
He stated that the British Minister in Tuscany
had been instructed to use all the influence
which he could, in the name of this country,
to procure a remission of the sentence ; and a
copy of the despatch to Sir HENRY BULWER
has been published, in which the FOREIGN SE-
CRETARY argues upon the injustice and cruelty of
the sentence, and instructs him to speak in the
most serious -tone to the Tuscan Minister of
Foreign Affairs, and to lay before him all the con-
siderations stated in the despatch, but at the same
time to do it in the most friendly tone. We have
on a previous occasion expressed as strongly as
possible our utter abhorrence of the deed for which
the Grand Duke of TUSCANY, as the despicable
tool of intolerant and sanguinary Rome, has ac-
quired an infamous notoriety; at the same time we
question the right of the British Government or the
British people to do more than has been done,
viz., to assume a tone of remonstrance, or pass a
resolution of indignant protest against such an
assumption of bigotted tyranny. Strictly speaking,
it is no affair of ours, but purely one for the people
of Tuscany and their spiritual masters at Rome. It
should, however, open our eyes to the malignity of
the venemous reptile which we are cherishing
within our own bosoms, and incite us to renewed
activity in defence of that purer faith which our
fathers won for us at the Reformation, and which is
now assailed by the insidious arts of Jesuits in pri-
vate life, and the open assaults of such unscrupu-
lous fanatics as Mr. LUCAS in the British Legisla-
ture, and Romish Prelates on the hustings in
Ireland.

THE REY. DR. M'NEILE AND THE
RAGGED SCHOOLS.
THE great meeting which was held last week for
the promotion of the Liverpool Industrial Ragged
Schools excited a very considerable share of public
attention; and the enthusiasm which was displayed
evinced the general feeling in favour of this means
of converting the outcast children from our streets
into respectable members of society. Among the
several speakers on fie occasion was the Rev. Dr.
M'NEILE ; and he very properly and forcible
alluded to the influence exercised by Romish Priests
in preventing parents under their control from
sending their childrel to these schools, and even
compelling them to withdraw their children, under
the blasphemous pretence that their souls were
more in danger than vhen they were learning crime
in the streets. These remarks have led to an attack
on the reverend gentleman by one or two of our con-
temporaries, who, trueto the instincts of their party,
profess great consideration
.and toleration for the
ever intolerant and persecuting Romanist section.
It may be, and no doubt is true, that much diffi-
culty is experienced though the opposition of cri-
minal parents, who, endeavour, by systematically
corrupting theieunhappy offspring, to obtain means
for the indulgence of their own evil propensities;
and for this horrible state of things some legislative
enactment may le necessary ; but it is equally true
that, as Romish superstition is only maintained by
ignorance, the ?riests of Rome exercise a despotic •
authority, where they can, in perpetuating it. It is
no question o: religious toleration, but one abso-
lutely affecting the real liberty of those who are,
unfortunately subject to such spiritual despotism.
It has been, and is, the great curse of Ireland, that
her unhappy )eople have been subject to this grind-
ing sacerdotal opprecoion and ovary attempt to
relieve them rom it has been met with this sense-
less and mucn-abused cry of religious liberty. Dr.
M'\EILE stoke no more than the truth when he
alluded to tlis obstacle to the successful operations
of the Liverpool Ragged Schools; and the abuse
which it lus called forth, shows clearly that the
leaning of Radicalism is towards Rome, notwith-
standing its pretended zeal for the interests of the
Protestant faith. Toleration to Rome has operated
as an encotragement to encroachment. Impunity
has given confidence to priestly ruffianism, as was
shown in Southwark, a short time since, where a
woman wts flogged by a Romish Priest for having
had her chid baptised; and unless some steps, are
taken to interpose more effectual restraints than
have lately been the case, it may be a question for
serious consideration, whether we should not do
well to resort to the ancient interdict against any
Romish Priest practising as such within these
realms. The greatest evil we have to endure is
that wart of moral courage which prevents a man
from bodly denouncing the mischief, through some
false deicacy about toleration. The duty, however,
is plainly before us ; and without the slightest
regard for the mock sentimentality of Radical pro-
fessors of religious liberty, we do but assert, what
every rue Protestant believes, that Rome is anti-
Christ, and that consequently Romanists have no
real claim to the title of Christian. Toleration,
therefore, in this direction is but an abuse of the
term ;and the conversion of their poor dupes should
form as much an object of Christian zeal, as sending
missionaries to the Heathen.

SECOND EDITION.

Standard-office, Two o'clock, p.m.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

PARIS, MONDAY.—There was little business done at
the Bourse. Three per Cents opened at 81, but on the
report that the Austrians had entered Ticina, they fell to
80.60. Four-and-Halves closed 105.90. A somewhat
active business in Railway Shares; for investment, not
a shade of improvement.

AUSTRIA, VIENNA, Feb. 20th.—The Emperor of Aus-
tria was going on well.

SWITZERLAND, Feb. 19th.—The Austrian government
has ordered all natives of Ticiano, resident in Lombardy,
to quit the kingdom. The workmen in twenty-four
hours, landed proprietors and others within three days.
About 5,000 Ticinese would suffer by this measure.
The frontier of Griscns is re-opened.

The St. Gothard pass remains closed.
MILAN, Feb. 17th.—General Gyulai gave a Milanese
deputation. Little hope of any relaxation of the Govern-
ment severity. The Municipal Treasury had paid a
forced contribution of 40,000 florins, and was to pay
30,000 florins, every Wednesday, until further orders.
Fresh troops arrived every day; and the gates still re-
mained closed.

MONTENEGRO.—Hostilities have re-commenced. Onicr
Pacha is advancing upon Koholi.

LONDON.—The Times says the present series of Wool
sales are progressing satisfactorily, and the advance is rose
to Id. to 113. per lb. as compared with prices at last sales.

LONDON STOCK AND SEIARE MARKET.
THIS DAY, ONE O'CLOCK.
Consols for Account, 921; ditto Money, 994 4 ; Bank
Stock, 227 ; Exchequer Bills. L. and S., 10.20; Three-
and-a-quarter per Cents., 1034 4.

LEEDS STOCK EXCHANGE.—This DAY.
NOON QUOTATIONS.
Great Northern pref., a pm. ; Lancashire and York-
shire, 77i; Leeds Northern, 151; Midland, 78 ; North.
Westerns, 8 3-16 ; Lewis Hall Range, 4.

LIVERPOOL CORN MARKET.—THis DAY.
The English markets at the close of the past week were
in general vi ell supported, deliveries from the growers
being uniformly on a reduced scale, and this feature will
probably continue for some time, as agricultural work
must shortly engage almost exclusive attention. The
severe frost of the last two weeks, though much later than
usual, has yet been in seasonable time to mellow the soil
for the reception of spring crops,; taking the country
geherally. a tolerable 'breadth of Wheat land has been
planted since the turn of the year, but the intervention of
frost stopped this culture; and, as it is seldom ventured
on to any great extent so late as March, we may consider
the main portion of the Wheat crop of 1853 to be now in
the ground, but under an extent of surface greatly defi-
cient from that usually cultivated; and in Ireland this
disproportion is stated to be even larger. 'Whatever
results may be hereafter worked through the important
fact above mentioned, the present aspect of our grain
trade appears to be alone affected by more immediate in-
fluences, and the presence or early prospect of a supply in
excess of the weekly. demand, seems to govern more
directly the course of prices in a market divested, in a
great degree, for the time, of all speculative movement.
The imports into the kingdom, during some weeks, partly
through contrary winds, have been of very limited amount;
but a large number of vessels, chiefly with Wheat through
the Mediterranean, are close at hand, for which it is pro-
bable a good demand will be experienced, on arrival, from
English and Irish millers, both having kept themselves,
of late, much in reserve, even upon reducing stocks. The
operations her, since last market day, have been small in
the extreme, and values generally have been only about
maintained.
The market this morning was dull fcr both Wheat and
Flour, and prices were lower than on last market day.
Other articles hung fire.