The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-07
Gsrnlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
EPIDEMIC CREDULITY.
WHAT THE PILGRIM FATHERS DID.
louisville Courier Journal


hunters. The So called evidence which til
egroes are furnishing, aid which gray
tatesmen are sOlemply pre- sentipg to tn
country in theshspe of reports and ponder
pus Congressional docu ments, seems Nkel
10 bring upon us one of those periodic cpl
demics of credulity which recur so often IL
history, and which, breaking out in what ap
s pears to be high stage of inteiiectnal devei
Opment, defy all philosophical explanation
1t has been very justly remarked that the
testimony upon which the Returning
Board of Louisiana relied with most conf
81 out the thousands of discarded ballots cast
in the late election, would not be cor siGered
anfi Gent to determine hundred-dolla1
init before justice of the peace in au or
binary civil proceedings; but, prompted by
sheir desires, many Intelligent persons
have permitted blind credulity to run away
with their reason until they are ready to
accept the most moDstrously absurd state
ments as proof beyond the possibility of
doubt.
s. We read in history of similar epidemics,
Bnd We wonder that sensible men could have
become infatuated with belief in what ap-
bears to our calm inspection 30 palpably
alse; but when the future historian comes to
sift these great volumes of fabulous affidav-
te which are DOW going through our nation
Ai printing office, our posterity will not only
wonder that such stuff could find place for
belief in part of the public mind, but the
wonder will be still greater that men who
were esteemed in our time illustrious for
kheir ability, should have considered them
worthy even of consideration, and still less
worthy of publication among the records of
government. We smile st the credulity,
and we deplore the mad folly of our not
very distant ancestors, who hung their
.Aeighbors for the crime of witchcraft on
testimony that no child would now believe;
but when We come to look into that testi
I, all e.
$ies, and compare it with the testimony that
now every day being presented to our con-
federation as proof of the truth of charges
es amazing az accusation of witchcraft, we
will fad the eager credulity which we de-
ride quite equalled by that exhibited by
otherwise sensible men of our own CAV.
The delusion of witchcraft, like the de-
fusion of bulldozing, gave opportunities for
political advancement as we'll as for VEN
geance. The vain, superstitious and malig-
.nant Cotton Mather exultingly cried out
Ss The time for favor is come yea, the set
time is come. Instead of my being made a
sacrifice to wicked rulers, my father in-law,
with several related to me, and several
brethren of my own church are among the
council. The governor of the province is
not my enemy, but one whom baptized,
and one of my dearest friends" To main
tain his own supremacy, Cotton Mather de- |
termined ON religious excitement, and
with his friends in Office he undertook the
prosecution of witchcraft. Samuel Paris, |
the minister of Salem village, had had a |
difficulty with part of his people, and lie |
cheerfuly gave his assistance to the scheme. |
MS daughter, child of nine years, and his |
niece, girl OF twelve years, were carefully |
Lralneu oy MIN as witnesses. AS q ground.
work for the plot an Indian servant who bad
practlced certain wild, Indian incap tatious.
WAS accused OF being a witch; aUd vas tiu-
ally logged and scared iato a confess or,
That wac enough, for it established the OK
lstance OF witchcraft, and everv ONE WA
called to believe in it.
The deputy governor ard We other MAG
strates came to Salem in solemn state to
investigate the prevalence of this dreadful
of witchcraft. Some old women
we're first selected 80 victims, and Paris
children declared that they had seen one of i
hem at the witches sacrament, aud Que of {
he children testified that another of the &C
:used women had invited her TO sign the
leviPs book. Old men anG tender women
Who expr essed their disbelief were cast into q
Prison, aod soon no one dare say that he r
doubted the alarming prevalence of the ter l
lble crime. Little children were frighten-
q into testifying that their parents and \
ranugSlente were witches, and saw them t
eallzed they had falsely given. Finally, r
George Burroughs, a minister and a rival :
& Parris, was accused of DENYING the eyia- :
5nce of witchcraft, and in tho end fonnd :
is way to the gallows. :
The magisterial board of Investigation 8
Olemnly presented as truthful evidence the :
7tldest fancies of the most excited imaoi- =
alton, but they still seemed to desire some y
Eronger corroboration than the confession =
{ an Indian girl to justify the work they i
ad agreed upon. Tomeet this need it was r
minated that confession alone would save G
hose who were accused from the gallows, a
nd sooD, men and women, to escape death, | h
onfessed and simulated pentsnce that they h
lad been in league with the devil, and had, T.
through him, brought gIievous misfortunes Il
epOn their neighbors. Those who confess Il
ID escaped. Those who denied were hanged; r
And some who had confessed, and then, c.
conscience stricken, had withdrawn their i,
confessions, were treated as doubly damned a
by second voluntary resignation to the p
Tiles CT the devil. n
Cotton Mather himself testified of one b
iorlorn old weman that "she gave look W