Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-03-06

you nave no right to go behind the act
and lmpeach the motive
1t may be interesting as well rs in
structive to inquire what would have
been the effect CT granting religious
freedom alike to all the different sects.
In the first place there would have been
no sufficient motive for deposlng the
King. Ireland with her free Catholicism
would have been as contented and loyal
as Scotland with her free Presbyterian
ism. There should have been no battle
of Boyne, no subjectlon of her people,
no conliscation of her lands a half
century of bloody, expensive and worse
than useless war originating in English
hatred of the Catholic Church, would
have been averted. Neither the Church
Of England, nor the Church of Rome
has been an aid to civilization and
human progress. All experience shows
that they are dead weights and encum-
berers of human nature, yet Frnnce, in
spite Of her Catholicism, is, at this
moment, freer anu more prosperous
than Great Britain or any other Nation
Of Europe. 1t is therefore, no Catho-
licism but English despotism that has
reduced Ireiaud to her present state of
poverty, ignorance and degradation.
Indeed it is not too much to say that If
for the last two or three centuries
Ireland had been an independent State,
or even a province of France, she would
at this day have been In the enjoyment
or Government far more just and far
more free than that of England. She
would not have been less than a Repub-
lie like that of France or the United
States. established by all the people for
the protection OF the rights of all.
Almost fifty years before the settle
ment of Pennsylvania by William
Penn, Maryland was settled by Lord
Baltimore, Roman Catholic, under a
charter granted by Charles the l. The
missionaries made peace arrangements
with the Indian tribes occupying the
Maryland territory so satisfactory that
there was no war between them and
the colonists. The established religion
of the colonists was Roman Catholic,
but all other sects were declared free
to worship according to the dictates OF
conscience.
On this free religious basis the colony
was far more popular and prosperous
than the jamestown Colony that, under
the influence of the Church of Eng
land, refused to tolerate disSenters, ur
the Puritan Colony that settled New
England at Plymouth, who, though
themselves fugitives from persecution,
lercely prosecuted the professors of
every form OF religion but their owr.
Their Justification of religious persecu-
ton may be thus summarized:
Resolved, (l) That the earth is the
Lords.
Resolved, ~ That he has given it
to his saints.
Resolved, (3l That we are his saints,
Against the heather Indian tribes an
exterminatlng war was waged. They
had no rights that the saints were
bound TO respect.
Canada was settled by French Catho-
lies with but little war with the natives,
and with still less religious persecution
of the non confirming sects.
| Louisiana was also settled by French
| Catholics on a free religious basis, and
without war with the Indians.
With all these examples before him
| it is no wonder that William Penn
chose to ally himself with James III IN
his contest with the Church of Eng
land. Yet it was on account of the part
| he took in this great struggle that
| Macauley assailed his hitherto unSpot-
| ted fame and greatness. In order to
appreciate justly the character OF Will
liam Penn it will be necessary to deter
mine what constitutes true worth OF
real greatness. DR.. Franklin tells us
that he preferred 4 doer OF good to
every other character. No man can DE
truly great, however mighty may be his
deeds, who is not doer of good.
| Alexander and Cesar were not really
great men. They deserve to be remem.
bered only as great and successful rob
bers. Marlborough, FREDERICK, Wei
lington and Napoleon should go GowL
to posterIty with a like infamous mem
ory. Scarcely less UNANIMOUSLY great
were most of the canoniZed heroes OF
Macauley. 1t may be well just tC
glance at a few of them. William
Prince of Orange, was OF a cold, selfish
temperament, and OF boundless ambI'
tion. He came over to help the Church
OF England depose James because II
was the shortest, if not the only way t
the British throne. He was a latitude
marian in religion, and, personally
would have preferred that all religion,
tests should be abolished. This the
blcotry of the established church and
of most of the dissenting sectS would
not permit. He, therefore, without
hesitation, chose to suppress his con-
science III order to crafty his ambition
When. after the battle of Boyne, he
had reduced Ireland to the condition o.
conquered province, he confiscateG
many millions OF acres of land belong
ing to those who had taken part against
him. OF this land he Illegally apprO
priated several thousands of acres Il
himself and to his personal friends
Another of Maciuley's great herce
occupying a high place in the temple
Of fame, is Oliver Cromwell He over
threw the tyrant Charles L, and theI
ruled England with a despotIsm more
absolute than ever Charles had dareC
to exercise. But 1t was a govern
ment by and for Puritan Saints only
On all other sects its despotic hand Wa
heavily laid. After conquering Eng
land, he waged a meTciless war for th'
subjugation OF Catholic Ireland. a
the taking of Drogheda and some othel
cities, the victory was followed by
merciless massacre of the defenders
Neither Oliver Cromwell nor his saint!
saw anything wrong in this Thel
were rebellious Catholics. the enemIe
of God, who it was his will should b'
DESTROYED. When the war was over
many millions If acres of land wer
confiscated and taken from their CdthO
lie owners for tie benefit of the con
Quering saints. Two more and tw,
more only, of Macauley's great mel
must be mentioned, Give and Hasting
were Governor Generals of India
They were among the bravest as wei
as most rapacious of men. They no
only built up British India, but the
saved 1t from falling into the hands O
the French. Well had 1t been for th
native population had India fallen int
the hands of the French. For unde
Give and Hastings. British rule wa
characterized by rapacious cruels
never before equalled in any clvilize
community. Ii Is true that Macaule
has severely condemned some OF theI
| most 1agrantly criminal acts, but sti
. asks US to look upon them as grea
J men; as among the mightiest builder
OF British Empire. With such ideas c
t greatness, it could not be expected
that Macauley would have any ju:
: appreciation of the greatness of Wi
liam Penn. He could see nothing Yer
great in William Penn'5 quiet way {