The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-23
facts and Moral Conclusions.

I AfTkhsoS VCtuIe, VI iuuieuay SNeHiuS
last. /, is needless 10 say that the Reverend
Doctors lecture, filtered through the 10y
Doctors pen, takes quite a novel and unex-
pected shape and some things that he said
or came near saying are so mixed up with
the original and astounding things that his
lay interpreter says for him, that it forms
altogether an entirely new and independent
contribution TO the historical literature of
the day. We string together necklace OF
these original historical facts and moral
conclusions, " orient pearls at random
strung" as sample Of the luminous erudi-
ton OF which the M'nnesoi,an undoubtedly
enjoys the exclusive monopoly it claims
AT the commencement OF the fifteenth cen.
tury, there was nest of inidelity and heresy
with almost overruling power.
That is the lay Doctors historical fact,
No. l.
"The fields OF sunny France were the first to
be drencbed with blood and blsaeh he bones OF
martyrs, who were contending for some degree
Of religious liberty.
The lay Doctor is quite clear about the
fields aforesaid, being the first to bleach the
bones aforesaid.
The ruling monarch was indignant at the
cries Of the oppressed and turned ruthless
enemy on the country lit Is not IN ortbOdor
that this Ike finds an 'habitation and name.
The last clause is supposed to be a deep
moral conclusion, quite too deep to be
sounded.
"The Edicts against the Heretics, published
on the 18th of April 1898, YVES what hundreds Of
thousands had pleaded and prayed for, for many
years. Francis enjoined his subjects TO observe
the articles Of the Edct, aud allay dissentions.'
This edict against the Heretics, cores
ponds in date remarkably with an Edct in
their favor, which last Edct was the subject
Of the lecture.
AS FRANCIS, however, died in l547, it is
difficult to understand how he could have
communicated this injunction to bis subjects
upon an Edict published fifty years after
wards, unless he raped them spiritually, as
when alive he used to rap them bodily, for
their heresies.
On the reign Of CHARLES VIII, the his
torian Of the Mnme,otian further remarks
with an amusing unconsciousness Of the an
achronism:
"During the early par, Of this reign, howe.
yer, the Protestants gained some ground but
the Edict was not strictly observed and blood
shedding became frequent again. "
Further down, we have this piece OF infor-
nation:
a. la the Roman Catholic Church there had
been and was fostercd heresies, superstitions.
unboly creeds aud tcicksd shitturts.
This last abomina,ion was undoubtedly
the immediate cause OF the Reformation, for
nothing is more disagrccabe than ar,e-
t,re, and if aggravated is said 10 be too
dreadful 10 endure by those who have tried
it.
There were fashionable churches in those
days, il seems
Tho Friends, Bap'ist- and Episcopalians
were all in vogue. aud should have learned the
principles Of liberation.
Can anything be more transparent than
the following paragraph,
II was not without some opposition that the
Edict went into force but il did become the
law Of the land, and existed with some degree
of force for eighty seven years. The Hugenots
presumed upon their liberty, and yentured 10
advise in the Councils OF State. But The King
was an imbecile ruler, ignorant Of all the prin.
ciples Of liberal government, and Of the ants
of snoh people
What King was an imbecile ruler DIR.
PATTERSON was talking Of the bad educa.
ton OF LcUIs XIV who was anything Ger.
tainly bat imbecile. The two paragraphs
that follow, are even more remarkable mon
uments Of perspccuity, but they are too
lengthy to permit anything but this ,ragical
extrac, abou, q terrible churchman
Iii. insults ard prosecutions could be born
DO longer. aud bis fe was tsken. Fny-two
ponisrd wounds marked the number ~ his
bloody crimes. This demonstration was the
overture 20 the ground, opposition against the
Hugenots.
That is a remarkably accurate computation
o. the ABBE's crimes. We might suppose
the last clause 10 BE- bundle Of typograpb-
ical errors, If there was not a sustained
and consistent imbecility about the whole
article, which shows it To be inherent in the
writer.
But the most astonishing historical de-
velopment has yet TO come.
On the 18th OF October. 1895, at Fon,ain.
blesu, the Edici was revoked by the King Lris
PhM,ppes. In history We have the name Of
Lous handed down a. the Grand Monarch.
But the consequences Of the Edict are felt sven
at this day Rel gi8n, poli'ies. commerce. liter
ature and the arts mus; 10 20 that Ediei AZ
the nursery Of The greatness they boast. Leus
Ph.lippss ,lgnsd The rsvoca,ion Of n, Edic'.
This is worse than the anachroaistic 10
junction Of FRAycrs the Frat, before
mentioned. Lows PHILIPPE died about
ten years ago in the quis, seclasion Of an
English country village. We do no; be-
lieve be wss living in l63j--or If be YES,
aud, con,id1ring the Influence Of Holloway