Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-03-05
Austria ana the Bible.


BY the last news from England, we learn that an
order has been issued, forbdding the entry Of any
more English Bibles into Austria and that the schools
established BY the Missionaries, have been closed
by the police.
Such has been invariably the action Of despotic
governments, in relation to Proiestan, missionaries
and the distribution Of the Bible The missionaries
they have always treated incendiaries, and the
Bible they have constantly banished from their do
mlnions as if IT were political torpedo, ready
to burst and overwhelm them in ruin.
When we recolIect that the grand idea Of despot-
ism is the total extinction of independent thought.
and the subsection Of the whole world to the govern.
ment of single monarch and hierarch, we need not
be surprised that Austria banishes men from her do
minions, who preach the right of private Judgment.
and that she denies TO her aIect subjects that vol
urne whose every doctrine is a revolution The only
thing that ought TO create Unreasonable wonder in
our minds, is the fact that Protestant republicans
are found 10 second such policy.
There journals in this country pious journals too
which have necessarily denounced the great leyolu
'onary movement in Europe, in 1S4s, and described
1t as an attack upon society, while the despotism
which now reyels in blood and merciess tyranny, is
aPpsanded. We wonder if those journals have ever
considered in what different relations the revolution
and reaction stood to religious liberty?
In lo4S, VIII en- the French republic was proclaim
cd, religious liberty and equality were proclaimed al
so. The legitimate rights Of the Church of Rome
were not attacked by the repubc but the Protestant
ministers, Coquerell and Monod, and their coadiu-
account of their faith. Bibles were distributed in
France, without any priesty interference, and tracts
were freely scattered abroad without any censorship
Under the reaction, France is bound neck and heel.
and handed over to the Jesuits. No bibles can be
distributed, no tracts be printed, no missionaries
dare teach, and even Coquerel, the peaceful Profess
tant pastor, has been ordered TO leave France.
Ia Rome, during the golden hour of her liberty,
one printing press, under the special encouragement
of the noble triunvr, Mazzni issued 5000 copies Of
the Sacred Scriptures, and was still actively at work
when Roman freedom was DESTROYED bv the brigands
Of Louis Napoleon. The people eagerly demanded
those bibles, and the republic said, take them;''
but one Of the first acts Of the restored despotism
OF K me was, to institute domiciIiary search for
them, and to punish whoever had them in his pos
session.
In Hungary. religious freedom, and freedom of the
press, were instituted by the republic, and mission.
aries from Scotland and England were encouraged to
labor amongst The peasantry; but now, not only are
the missionaries driven forth from the land but the
Sacred Scriptures are banshed also; their dissem-
'rle pru01
and dignity OF wen ordered despotism.
The war between European bert, and tyranny
IS not a mere political war. 1t is struggle between
all the wants and aspirations Of humanity, and the
logged egoiism of monarchy. The nations desire
spiritual light as well political freedom; and the
tyrans, conscious that che is the freeman whom the
truths Of Christianity make free,'' prescribe both
the republic and The Bible. We think if those men
an this country, who have somewhat assisted to de-
feat the revolution in Europe, by their encom age
ment OF such papers the Boston Advertiser, and
Courier, woad reflect that they are doing all they
can do 10 prevent the crcHlaon of the Scriptures,
amongst men who cry aloud for them, they would
pause before they accepted the opinions of papers
which strive to delame the nobest men Of the revo-
luton, and TO defend its traitors; and who cunse-
quenty help to pregeat the Characterization of the
world