Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-03-04

nipds at pleasure and so, in some
measure they did, but likethe Mahom-
e,an creed il was not fated to endore.-
The first Pope stepped upon the throne
backed by seven millions Of bayonets'
The people made virtue Of necessity
and submitted to his power. which Tor
season was secured by placing Mitres
in the hands, or Cardinals Hats on the
heads of the most powerful mon.rch's
and influential men in his dominlons.
But this did not long stand the test of
reason. Tire wisdom Of the people in.
creased with their years. Times we're
changing. The spirit ofhnman genius.
which had for ages been immured in
tire cells ofignorance, burst her prison.
She stood before them what she really
was, the key stone to society, the friend
of the people, the tyrant's bane !; and
the war of the Covenanters which al
terwards followed was effecte d by her
influence. 1t gave the death blow to
universal Popery.
For these tyrannick transactions Of
the darker ages there was satisfactory
reason. The use Of letters was hardly
known, ,md,,t the time Of the firstCharles
in England, the bible was placed only in
the hands OF the Priesthood, to be by
them Interpreted to answer their own
views. 1t was crime punishable with
hea,h, to have the Bible in its origna!
purity, found in the hands OF a Iayman.
But what exc,@e will he rendered by
the present generation, for the barbar-
barous acts which have been perpetra-
ted in Europe, during the last dozen
wears, onder the cloak Of religion p
Napoleon was condemned. perhaps just.
Inv, for being among the followers Of the
Pope Catholick when he wished TO
replenish his treasury Jew and when
in Egypt Mahometan. But the mon
archs Of later years have gone beyond
him, The magnanimous Alexander who
piteously cried for peace, when the
lesions of Bonaparte had driven his saw
age Cossacks from the field. and Lighted
with the fires Of death the ancient capi
tol of the Tzars he who was delivered
from utter destruction by the elements
alone forbid the circulation Of the Bi'
bic in his domiaions as late as the yeal
1890! And yet Alexander was almos
a saint, compared with Spain's weaI
king. There, neither the citizen mol
the stranger knew when the officers o
the Holy Inquisition would lay theil
;. slaves Of office at his door, and drag hin
before their tribunal. Could we pcne
trate the massy walls of their dungeons
and behold the victim wasted by lon!
confinement and by famine-could W.
see the hectick flush cross his cheek a
y the recollection of his own native Ian,
z recurred to his memory--could We be
hold him in his feverish sleep, 'whe
t fancy paints the image of his cheru
child, or he stoops to meet the fon
g embrace Of the partner Of all his sor
). rows when led away BY the Illusion {
r the brain, he believes himself seate
!. by his own fire-sile. on either hand
parent bent with age to whom he wa
recounting the sad tale Of all his t+oul
!, es-could you again behold him whe
4 he awoke to the reality Of his situ;
: tion--in phrenzy see him lacarate h
a flesh, with naas that for years ha
!, known no impeachment to their growth
when in the agony Of all his suffering
:. he grins the CHASTITY smile, or mad
. sets his teeth. yellowed by the damn
! Of his accursed dungeon, upon the ire
:, of his manaclcs-when the spirit whit
- - for time supported him had fled, ar
a he calmly lays his head upon the co
= foor, hoping the next agonizing brea
, might be his last. Could we, wi
- :. the hand Of sympathy raise the thi'
:, curtain which surrounds the tortu
- =, room, and behold, perhaps an Ame
can, stretched upon the rack. his whu
frame convulsed and pierced wi
nina thar aIlnnsf rnaka fha s,,; .,