The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-04-22

at once in q position most favorable
to the attainment of freedom. and
with freedom all things are posi-
BILE.
1t is true that among the nations
at different times there appeared
such men as Waldo, Wicklitfe, and
Gallileo, who thought for them,
selves. But not until the time of
the Reformation do we witness the
grand spectacle of entire nations
breaking loose from the servitude
OF centuries, and claiming this,
their inherent right. Rome sue.
ceeded for many hundred years in
binding the consciences of men to
the ruthless wheels Of the Papa]
Juggelnaut, and she dared to lay
her presumptuous hand upon the
human mind, and say to it thus
far shalt thou 60"
But the time has now come when
the Car Of Infallibility, as it lies de.
caying in the midst of its anciert
and efete paraphernalia, is laughed
atby every passer-by, save the stupid
and the knave; while the hand that
essayed to stay the progress ot
mind has been fatally palsied in the
attempt.
But Rome did not yield her cher.
ished policy without a hard strug
gle. After the Lutheran separa
ton these nations which adhered
to her were made to experience full.
ly the destructive workings of that
policy.
The Inquisition was established
to extirpate heresy, that the author
ity of Rome might be maintained
inviolate. In all these countries
where this tribunal was firmly
planted, the will of Rome became
the highest law.
1t was her first will that her au
tholities and dogmas be unquestion
ed; in other words, that the people
believe, think, and speak just as she
dictated to them. This policy was
to be maintained, let the cost b.
what it might. She well knew tha
for it's maintainance education mus
be fettered, and freedom of tht
press and of speech be denied. I
was then, to make automatons O.
these beings whom God had made
to be earnest, thinking men, or tc
convert those-whom their Create,
intended to be free and enlightened
men into fearful and ignorant slaves
that the aid Of the Inquisition was
invoked.
And it did we'll it's work, but il
extirpating heresy, it crushed ou
manliness, and in destroying rei
gious freedom, it struck a deatl
blow at political liberty. It sue
ceeded in shutting out for se7era
hundred years from all Catholic
States of Europe, except France, ant
the Spanish American States, those
grand ideas which gave to Protest
ant communities a new and vigo
rous life, and which enabled then
to lead the van in the march of civ
ilization. It also reared a Chinese
wall around Catholic Christendom
to keep out Professionalism. This
wall was seemingly impossible, anc
impregnable, but, like that of Jeri
cho, it has fallen to the ground be.
fore the shouts Of the Protestant
host. This wall has fallen not be
fore the artillery Of some mighty
army, lead by skillful and scientific
generals, but it has been laid pros
trate before the all.potent voice O
Truth, as it was loudly and inces
sanity proclaimed from the belea
guering ranks Of Protestantism.-
Those great Protestant ideas which
have resulted in religious freedom
and which are essential to the full
development of human liberties
passing the boundaries of Protest
ant countries, and working thei1
way into the minds and hearts Of
men, have effected such a revolu
ton in Catholic countries both il
Europe and America, that we dc
not claim it as the work of man
but are constrained to cry Out
"what hath God wrought"
It is a well known fact that edu
cation is more generally difused in
Protestant than in Catholic coun
tries. If it were necessary to prove
that it is so, we have only to com
pare England and Germany with
Spain, Italy, and Austria in the Ole
World, and in the New, the United
States, and Canada with Mexico
and the South American commune
ties. France may be pointed to al
opposing this assumption, but sta
tistics will show that education il
less general in France than eithe,
in Great Britain or Germany. ",
are, therefore, compelled to believ,
that Professionalism fosters educa
ton, and that it, in turn, strength