New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-25

We chronicled recently public meeting which,
but for the somewhat sectaran sspec, given 70 1t,
would have attracted general attention. Thcre are
worthy gentlemen who seem 10 have no idea OF
human liberty, except as connected with their own
sect school and. accordingly, II does not seem to
to the Rev DR. Baird or the Chri istIan Evunso
lcal Union, that the question of Religious Liberty in
So eden can possibly be presented to the American
public, except under the wing Of some pet project
of their own. What the new Presbyterian Prot.
estant Chapel in Paris has to do with the subject
of Catholics and Baptists being fned and exled in
Sweden for their faith, is a problem somewhat
puzzling 10 the world outside Of the Christian
Evangelical Union.
The result of such an amalgamation Of subjects
was nhat might have been expected-a meeting
very thiny attended, and speeches singularly stale
and Improbable. The compacent humor Of some
Of the speakers, with reference To the vast moral
ipaucnce which would extend TO the fdrthest val
leys Of Sweden from this important meetIGg, viii
probably be somewhat disappointed and they may
even be gratifed if one out of thousand m New
York itself shall ever hear Of the assembly. Why
cannot DR.. Baird and MS coadjutor., who seem to
have taken on themselves the charge of the reiig-
ious liberties of Europe, learn that question like
this in Sweden belongs to the world, and has moth
ing whateyer to do with lis Chapel IN Paris or the
interests Of the Evangelical Union
There should have beer call FOX a meeting
which would have echoed over America II is the
old question rcvived-the old struggle. Liberty OF
conscience is again at stake. powerful hIerar-
chy-as so many times 10 the worlds hstory--sre
again seeking to crush the humble seekers Of truth
and the conscientious worshipers. Only this
time, If to chow US tina: tie spirit Of persecution
may belong 10 ali creeds and al churches, Il Is tie
Protestant Christian Church who are the persecu-
tors. nothing in the religious expressions OF mod
err Naples and Madrid; nothing in sny history Of
ancient wrongs shows any more tie spirit OF 10
justice, Of sacerdota pride, of intolerance end IN
reason, than the proceeding of the Swedish Lu-
theran Church during the last twenty-five years
toward Quakers, Bap'isis and Catholics. These
simple, unofending men have been !iaed, impris-
oned and eIi'cd; their tlngs hare been BROKEN
up: their books burned. They snd their families
lave been fairly hunted from the cour.ry,
and sometimes even reduced 70 extreme
penury That the rack and the gAliows have
Dot been sppled to them By their PEest!y fathers,
is due, not to the mercy OF the Protestant Church,
but TO the more humsLe spin: OF the legislation OF
the county These facts were known to the cab
ers Of this meeting-aDd What 81 opportunity TO
have testified to this country and 20 the world
that the Protestants Of New-iork ie.t ths
wrong not principally to our brethren, but most
Of all to the grea. cause Of Religious Liberty, snd
that we are ss ready to protest when Protestant
Church oppresses the Catholics, as when tAe Cath
ole Church oppresses the Froies'sn.s- There
should have been Catholic Bishop on the Platform
in this meeting, and Baptists and Quaker' and
Methodist, should have been there TO utter their
indignant protests, along with Presb, toiians,
against this great wrong, 10" done to toe human
conscience under the shadow Of the Swedish Prot
estsnt Church.
For i. is great wrong. To force the belief
Of man. to coustrain conscience By governnent
sanctions to in,rude with legislation oto the inner
and sacred shrine OF worship, Is now IN almost
every civilized country recognized as one of the
Il oct useless and most unPsId"paee acts OF opprcs-
sion which power cAl commit. The e7ea: secret