Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-07-14
An Inspiring Speech.

While the discussions on the new COnsttu-
ton were in progress in the Spanish Cortes,
Rev. Father Manterola, Canon of Vittora,
and one Of the most learned aud eloquent
members of the Spanish priesthood, opposed
it in speech Of great ability and power.
He considered Spain to be on the brink Of
chaos, and the project Of the constitution was
the brink of the abyss. He particularly OPP
posed the article authorizing liberty of wor-
ship, and declared that if Spain cast herself
into the arms Of free worship" abandoned
Of God she would utterly perish, and her
name would disappear from the list Of civil
lied nations.
lie was replied to by young deputy, Senor
CASTELAR, in an impromptu speech Of remarka-
bic eloquence, which has been pronounced one
Of the greatest orations of modern times.
Replying to the denial Of the priest, that the
church Of Rome had been prosecuting
church, he said
"Senor Manteroa said he condemned all re-
ligious prosecutions. Then his reverence
ought to condemn lively and energeticaly
many pages iu the history Of the church.
" We did not kill the persecuted ones, said
CtuoI 4hdultIuld' - lut tlNll loNtI hllltu
them :" Mirthful defence As if the assas-
sin should say it was not he who killed his
victim, it was his dagger The inquisition,
gentlemen, the inquisiton was the dagger of
the church The truth Of the prosecutions
may be known by opening any page Of eccle-
sias,ical history
"Senor Manterola says have never been in
Rome Yes | have. have visited its ru-
ns | have contemplated its three hundred
domes have been present at the ceremo-
nies of the Holy week | have admired the
gigantic Sibyls Of Michael Angelo which seem
to launch eternal maedictions | have seen
the sun penetrate into the basilica of St. Pc
ter's have sought in those ashes an atom
of religious faith-I have only encountered
deceit and doubt Yes | have been in Rome,
and have seen in the " Sala Regia," painted
by Bassari, fresco of the cmissaries of the
King of France, who sent to the Pope the
head of Colgny. have seen the apotheosis
of the great ecclesiastical glories of the exc
cutioners--the assassins of the night of St.
Bartholomew.
Great is God in Sinai the thunder pre-
cedes him, the lightning accompanies him
the light enyeops him the earth trembles ;
the mountains fall in pieces But there is
God greater and grander than that Not
the majestic God of Sinai, but the humble
God of Calvary, nailed to a cross wounded,
thirsty, crowned with thorns gall on his lips,
and yet saying" Father, forgive them, for
give my executioners, forgive my prosecutors ;
pardon them, for they know not what they
do !" Great is the religion of power but
greater is the religion Of love. Great is the
religion of implacable justice, but greater is
the religion of pardoning mercy. And |, in
the name of that reigion-I, in the name of
the gospel come here to ask you to write in
the front of your fundamental code-Liberty,
Equality, and Fraternity among all man
kind"
The effect of this eloquent close was cleo
trical and overwhelming. Members crowded
around the gifted young orator, embracing
and kissing him, the president even declaring
the session closed, descended from his tribune,
embraced CASTELAR, and kissed him on both
cheeks The speech was everywhere the
topic of conversation and pronounced the
death-blow to religious intolerance and the
power of the clergy in Spain, There is hope
for a country where its public men can so
boldly and powerfully defend the rights of
conscience, and the principles of religious
liberty.