New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-07

eyer Ue % sstn1 mo aoeoraton which possibly 1e
Effected will penetrate below the surIe. suriste. and
course is to weaken the supestition OF te Sa sci
this can only be done by that macn of or
ence which, familarziug men win ti" ON the old
Jer srd of reoularitv gradually encroaches on i ond
nocns of porturbation Of prodigy, and o. ,Sa 1;c;s
Inv tbis means accustoms the mind TO eH ;ateed ~
sudes of affairs by natural i snnernatura
"a heretofore by those which are puIei! '"p
The history of Scotland during the period In
question presents singular paradox "hicn n''n'
erto has not received the attention IRON thinking
men which it may justly challenge. The same
oone have long been liberal in politics, and illloer-
al IN religion. With a brilliant, inquisitive, and
skept;cal literature, the product OF the eghteeh'h
century, the Scottish mind is as much under tue
influence of narrow superstition, as it was dur
ING the priestly dominion in the seventeenth
The explanation Of this phenomenon as gwen
by Mr.. Buckle, is not an unfair specimen oi LIS
peculiar mode of reasoning. The primary cause
in his opinion. was the neglect or persecution OF
the Church by the ruling powers oi Sco'ianu, ioi
a hundred and twenty years alter the es'aonSn-
ment of Professionalism, thereby driving the cers!
into the arms Of the people. from whom alone
thew could obtain sympathy and support. Inc
democratic spirit was thus cherished oy 'ne
clergy, because they were opposed ana 'n"aiNu
by the upper classes. But while the people were
thus guarded from political despotsm they were
the more exposed to ecclesiastical oespo1lSin'
Having no one to trust to except their preachers
thew trusted them entirely, and upon all SUBJECTS
The clergy in this way gradually became supreme,
not only in spiritual matters, but also In temporal
| ones. The next cause was the method OF phlio-
sopbical inquiry which prevailed in Scotland dur
ing the eighteenth century. which beng essehiiai-
| ly deductiye in its character or reasoning from
assumed abstract principles, instead OF peihg ln-
| dnctiye or reasoning from ascertained iacIs' cu'
off the thinkers from the sympathy Of their coun-
trymen, and prevented their works from proouc-
| inc the effect which they might otherwise nave
done. The result was that though very skep-
tical literature was produced, superstition stu
bah ;ts SWAY over the mass of the people. The
| bioblv educated minds indeed were Affected; pu'
thew formed class by themselves; ana had no
means of communication with their countrymen
in general.
The delineation Of Scotch society during the
supremacy of the clergy in the seventeenth cen
tury is executed in the blacklist coors. Even
| the host of authorities, with which Mr.. Buckle
attempts to fortify his statements do not snow
such a terrible debasement as he charges upon
the Scottish people. The vehement expressions
| of certain fanaticsl preachers are taken as the
| standard Of the popular faith. Extreme In
stances are adduced to show the depth oil igno-
rance and superstition into which, be MAINTAINS
the bulk of the population had sunk. And even
at this moment according to Mr.. Buckle, the
religions condition of Scotland scarcely presents
| an improvement on that Of Spain during tue
palmiest days of the Inquisition.
Putting aside the Ueahh of Nations, we shall find
that the Scotch literature OF the eighteenth century
did scarcely anything for Scotland, considered as
whole low iI has failed in its great aim OF weaken
lug superstition, is but too apparent TO whoever has
travelled in that country and observed the hsbts ana
| turn of mind still predominant. Many able and en-
| fghtened men who live there are 80 cowed by the
general spirit that for their comfort and for the
peace Of their families, they make resistance, but
tacitly comply with what they heartily desPse.
That they err in doing so, l, at least,
firmly believe; though know that many honest,
and in every respect competent, JUDGES are OF
| opinion, that no man is bound 10 be martyr or to
eoparOZe bis personal erests uBlefs he clearly sees
his way 10 some immediate public good To me, how
ever il appears that this is narrow view and that
the first duty of every l. to set bis face In direct
|
done tbat leave the results 70 take OF
themselves Still the temptation to contrary course
is always very strong, and, in country like
| Scotland, is by many deemed irresistible: La
no other Protestant nation, a1d, indeed, In
| no Catholic nation except Spain, will
man who is known to hold unorhodox opinions find
his lie equally uncomfortable. In few of the large
towns he may possibly escape anmadversion, II his
sentiments arc not too bold and not too openly
expressed. If he is tind and taciturn, is heresy
may, perchanoe, be overlooked. But even in large
towns, impunity is the exception, and not the rule.
Even in the capital of Scot land in that center Of in
teligence which once boa.ted Of being the Modern
Athens, whisper will quickly circulate that such
one TO be avoided fer that he ia a reethnker; If
feehinkiug weie crime, not better TO
| be free-thinker than q slayish thinker In other
parts, that is Scotland generally, tine state Of things
| is far Ispeak, not vague runor, but from
what know a. exiting ut the present time, ard for
the accuracy Of which youch and hold my self Tespon
sible. challenge any to contradict my assertion
when gay that, at this moment, nearly all Scot
land the hnger Of scorn pointed at every man. who,
III the exercise of his sacred and nalienabe right Of
free Judgment refuses TO acquiesce in those religious
| notions and 10 practice those religious customs,
winch time, indeed, has consecfated, but maby
Of which are repulS to the eye Of reason.
though TO all Of them, however irrational they
may be- the people adhere with sullen and inlexble
obslinacy. Knowing that these words will he widely
read and circulated in Scotland, and ayerse ma
turaly to bring myseifthe hostility of nation,
for whose many sterling and valuable qualities enter
tain sincere respect, do nevertheless deliberately
AFFIRM that in civilized country is liberation little
understood and that in hone is the spirit Of bigotry
and OF persecution extensively difused Nor can
any one wonder that such should be the case who OBJ
serves what is going on there The churches as
crowded as they i'll the Middle Ages, and are
hIed with deyout and ignorant worshipers, who |
flock together to listen to opinions of which the Mid
die Ages alone were worthy Those opinions they |
treasure up, and when they return to their homes
ant nfn fhl dsIlt ht.as.