The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-10-22

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Among the earlier writers in this re-
regard are Fenelon Bossnet and Mas
silon. Bossnet maintained that the,
foundation Of the State on social
contract and the deriUatioa Of aNpoav-
e,' from the actU Of the people, is con-
sonant with doctrines found in the
Bible. Fenelon, in his " Directions for
the Conscience of a King" says plain
ly: at is contract made with the
people, in order to render them your
subjects do you begin by violating
your fundamental title? They owe
you obedience only according to this
contract, and, if you violate it, you no
longer deserve their obedience" Mas
silon, in his Sermons in Lent, repre-
sents to the King, that he ows his
power only to the choice of the nation,
and concludes with the following
words: NEn un mot eomme la pre-
miere source de leur autorite Went de
nous, les rois n en- doivent faire usage
que pour NOUS" Gn word as the
prime source of their authority arises
from US, kings ought to make use of
it only for us.) iatlE!.7aaf
But Voltaire stands preeminent
among the authors in the 18th centu-
ry, whose writings reused the French
people to assert their rights, and to
break the chains of feudaIism that had
bound them for ages. Yet this same
Voltaire has been more misrepresent-
ed and more bitterly maligned by the
priesthood Protestant as well as Cath
olic, than any other man in christen-
dom. There is little doubt that nine
tenths of the lay members of the
churches in England and the United
States sincerely believe that this wri-
ter was one of the most wicked men
and the greatest blasphemer and the
worst enemy to christianity, found in
any age or any land. The question
then arises, whence has this opinion
originated? Any one who examines
authentic history can clearly answer
this question, for he will readily as
certain that Voltaire most effectually
exposed the corruption of the priest
hood, and proved the priests to be the
worst enslavers of the human mind,
and the strongest props, supporting
irresponsible authority in monarchy
and aristocracy. sil,.G u..aq1s 3 .-.;1 js;
If any man ever showed the natural
sovereignty of the intellect, and its
superiority, to all earthly splendor, it
was this distinguished man, who, in a
nation, and at time, when the learned
and scientific were considered in the
light of upper domestics of the great,
undertook to. secure for them an indie
pendent station. His influence was
felt throughout Europe; and never
did a man, by the force of his writings,
obtain such power. over his nation.
He once wrote "a satire against the
government, exposing to merited rid
icule the most corrupt body of rulers
that had ever borne sway in France,
and for this offence, he was impris-
oned in that horrible den, the Bastile.
In the latter part of his life, he pur-
chased the estate of Ferney, in the
Pays de Ger, where he resided the
rest of his lite, with his niece, Madame
Denis. He drew manufacturers, and
other settlers into his district, obtained
for them, through his influence, i'm
portant advantages, and reigned like
petty prince among his subjects.
Here he erected q aaeao and elegaWt
Church, with the. inscription Dec
ererit Voltaire. Quilt by Voltaire for
the worship of God.) A decided en-
emy of tyranny and oppression, he
afforded aid and protection to many
prosecuted persons. At that time he
wrote his mastery treatise on tolera-
ton. In the numerous writings which
he composed in this retreat, his free
spirit employed the weapons OF ridi-
cule, and the boldest eloquence against
all which contravened his ideas of
freedom and independence. To the
clergy he was particularly hostile on
account of their intolerance and per-
scouting spirit. Frederic the Great,
of Prussia, was his intimate friend,
who together with some French lite,
rati, erected to him a statue with the
inscription: "Statue erected to Vol.
toire by men of letters, his compatri-
ots." Although among our orthodox,
clergy he is styled Intfdez and Bias
Themer, these epithets can easily be,
proved to be, inapplicable, unreasona-
bic and unjust. In the first place, by
aiding the poor and friendless, and by
pleading the cause of the victims of
religious bigotry and intolerance, he
showed himself to be the follower of
the Golden Rule" which was Jesus
great command; secondly, the fact
that, at his own expense, a beautiful
church was built and consecrated to
the service of the. Most High, is an
abundantly sufficient refutation to the
charge against him. One of the great
est of our immortal statesmen, and the
pride of all our people, regarded Vol
taire with sincere reverence; for he,
with his grandson, once visited him,
and said, "My son, fall upon your
knees before this great man, Vol
taire gave the boy his blessing with
the words, ''God and Freedom Most
our most amiable Frakin,
with the highest christian
yraces, could never have held in such
admiration a 6laspheming infdel.
There is not shadow of proof that
Voltaire ever vilified true christian,
Dr. ever ridiculed an humble disciple of
he meek and lowly Jesus. His pow
'rful pen was not welded against
huf ooros,,4 :k.....--