Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-05-24
federation.

cause or provocation, about one thousand
of the peaceful citizens Of the city of Cahul
we're attacked by an Infatuated mob,
prompted doubtless by an envy of their
happiness. and thirst for blood and raw
age--plundered of their property, beaten,
and murdered in the public streets; their
wives aud daughters subjected to every
indecent brutality; their helpless infants
allowed to perish of hunger, cold, and ma
kedness; their shrines of religion CONVEX
ted into the receptacle of filth, and their
most sacred monuments destroyed-all on
account of their devotion to the laws Of
Moses.
Such tragic scene reminds the student
of History of the bloody days of the past,
when the fendish Inquisitors of Spain
consumed their days and nights in con-
structing instruments of human torture;
when the fires of Smithfield blazed high
with human victims in England; when
thousands of the most industrious and
skillful subjects of France and SpaiE were
exled from their homes because they ad-
hered to the faith of their ancestors when
the heroic sons of Holland restored their
beloved Fatherland to the empire of Nep-
| tune to rescue it from the more intolera-
BILE despotism of the gloomy son of Charles
V; when Catherine de Medicis, the incar-
nate demon Of Paris commanded the great
bell of the Hotel de Vile to sound the
knell of seventy thousand of the most
chivalrous and industrious citizens Of
France, causing the rapid current of the
Seine to be impeded by the multitude Of
human corpses when, in short, murder
barred his arm, and rampant war seemed
to have yoked the red dragons of her fiery
car" to spread fire and sword and devasta-
ton over the fairest portions of the foot
stool of the Creator.
And seeing this drama of intolerance
is being continually acted on this ball of
earth, it may not be improper to pause
and inquire whether we have made such
Advancement in religious liberty as is
generally boosted of.
Our forefathers preferred the inhospita,
bic shores of Plymouth, to the religious
persecution of their mother country but
no sooner had they risen to power than
they became tho most cruel prosecutors.
and burdened their statute books with
multitude of stringent laws we'll calculated
in every respect to render this beautiful
world "vale of tears" and belle the en-.
comium pronounced upon it by the Crea-
tor himself *
In few things are men more inconsst--
ent than in matters of religion. Some
one has said, that all persons are extreme.
ly liberal and tolerant until you chance to
step on their theological corns, when the
symptoms Of uneasiness are manifested.
Our fellow mortals, everywhere, will ex
tend to US the right hand of fellowship as
long as we agree with them in religious
views. But venture thought in opposi-
ton to their accepted notions of theology,
and your friends are transformed to the
most viruient enemies.
We have known persons TO be persecu
ted fo- refusing to adopt the most absurd
notions in Psychology, and we have re-
Gently witnessed an expression of hostility
for those opposed to the enactment of
sumptuary laws.
1t is possible to oppose an individual in
science, politics, or literature without for
feiting his friendship and esteem, but
disagreement in religion is likely to secure
his suspicion, hatred, and contempt.
The sectarians of the earth are contin-
nally consigning each other to perdition
for theological differences, while they all
profess to be the followers Of the meek
and lowly Jesus.
The soldiers of the "Prince Of Peace"
are continually unsheathing their swords
and filling their walls Of wrath for those
who oppose their peculiar notions.
o, Consistency Thy name is Man +!
The true and faithful of every age, religion
and cline, are destined to be congregated
in that great temple of the universe.
Where, where then will you bury the an
imosities that divided you i'll this proba-
tionary world9
o Charity, Thou goddess of Peace, and
Purity, and Religion Drop, drop thy
mantle from the skies teach us to toler-
ate, II we cannot respect the differences of
our fellow men.
Dodgeville, May Is, 1872.
NJ. THOMPSON CURRY.