The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-04-07

4 presents many features of high interest
They are in the first place thorough.
religious. This indeed is one of tn
characteristics of the Celtic race, and i
one of the highest evidences of tn
spiritual and unselfish nature of thei
minds. A people full of the devotiona
acknowledgements and pious may of
ten err; fanaticism, religious enthus
iasm or superstition may in turn pos
sess their souls heart, but it is in tn
j very nature. of strong devotioned feel
ing TO spiritualizea and uplift the thought
of men, to lead them out of themselve
and away from selfish consideration
and to expand their charities and thei
affections. When under the guidance
of intelligence and cultivated faculties
there errors which darken and distor
no longer prevail. The Irish people
for instance, are Celtic, and whatevel
the Protestant may think of the error
of their faith, he is bound to acknowl
edge that they have adhered under cen
turtles ofpersecution and oppression t.
theirancient religion with a fidelity
and a self-saerificing affection which
scarcely finds = parallel in the histor!
of martyrdoms. The Welsh people arr
thoroughly religious. 1t could be easii!
and satisfactorily shown did our space
permit why they have changed theil
faith but in fervour of religious yea
they are unchanged and unsurpassed
Throughout the land-on every hill and
from every green valley rises the voice
of pious faith. In every cottage the
Bible is read and explained and its doc
trine digested and almost in every cot.
tage is the labor of the day consecrated
morning and evening with prayer
This people have in fact national re.
| ligion as distinct and as determined as
that of England-and that religion is
dissent. But it receives no aid from the
states it lives and hourishes, in the
affections of the whole nation. Its
humble temples are scattered abundant
" over the land built and maintained
by the people. Its Sunday schools are
filled each Sabbath by the old and young
who meet here to instruct and to be in.
structed in religious truth in their own
cherished language. In no country are
the religious teachers of the people
more honored and beloved-in no coun-
try do those teachers work more zeal
ously and under greater priyations and
difficulties. Yet are the Welsh any
thing but a priest-ridden people. Be-
tween them and their humble pastors
the most perfect freedom and equality
exist. Every Welshman freely exer-
cises the right of private judgement.
His Bible, his common sense and his
faith in God are his highest guides to
truth. He investigates and judges for
himself, and free from all restraint or
priest-worship, discusses points of doc
trine with his pastor. The modest ac-
tivity and acuteness of the Welsh peo-
pie in this regard are remarkable, and
place them in striking contrast with
their Anglo Saxon neighbors.
The English peasantry are low, slug
gish, and heavy in mind. Satisfied with
the qualification of their animal wants,
they neither desire nor can appreciate
higher or more intellectual enjoyment.
Their faith is that of the parsons; they
are perfectly satisfied that he is right
and give themselves no further concern
about matters which they take some
merit on assuring you are above their
capacity. Their moral and religious con-
dition is accordingly low. Their con-
versation is generally lewd and coarse.
Drunkenness, the ancient vice of the
Saxon race, still prevails amongst them.
Their pleasures are degraded and sensu-
al and when their passions are aroused
their brutality is ferocious and fearful.
A people thoroughly religious like the
Welsh may in the absence of good edu-
cation manifest bigotry, and ignorance
on the subjects that interest intelligent
minds but it is certain they cannot sink
into immortality and profanity it is GER
tain, also, that although the constant
exercise of the mind upon the one sub
ject may CONTROL its views, yet when
that subject is religion, it is safe from
the influences of sensualism and vice /;
and the habits of investigation and ar
gumentation which so much prevail
amongst the Welsh give them an acute
ness and vigor of intellect most favora-
BILE for intellectual pursuits and i'm
provement.
1t is the great object of the English
government to destroy the language
and the dissentism of Wales. About
three years since a commission was ap-
pointed by the British parliament pro-
fessedly to enquire into the state of ed
ucation in that country but as the re-
suit most assuredly proved to misrep-
resent the character of dissent and in
fiuence OF the Welsh language. The
reports of the commissioners appeared
in due time. 1t was acknowledged by
them that the Welsh were emminently
a religious people. 1t was admitted
erty their church, their pastors and
their Sunday The reports
bore testimony to the intellectual acute
ness and activity of the people on re-
ligious matters; they admitted that
they were a bible-reading, prayerful
people. They acknowledged that less
crime existed in the principality than
in any other part of the British Empire.
What then was the offence of the peo-
ple2, They were guilty of minor vices
Let us investigate this accusation-let
US see what it means. We acknowledge
that cunning and falsehood are the charge
of the oppressed. These are the vices
of a subjngated nation and their only
defense against the injustice of power.
For power itself is the end of human
ambition. A subjugated people seek it
as they best can by every effort open to
then-too often by cunning, by deceit,
by falsehood. 1t is q doctrine of Pa
ley's that meRdacity is justifiable when
needed for the defense of life or liberty.
But triumphant and governing people
already possessing liberty seek power
by the exercise of their inestimable
privileges. There is no merit due to
the English that they are more candid
and hsve less resort to cunning or de-
ceit than the nations. Conquest has
made their victims. They have no me-