The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-09-17
THE INQUISITION.'
INSTITUTION THAT EXISTED IN
Az eoA,N FOR GENERATIONS.

Afterward Hereto Christians
80 Tortured and Killed.
Perhaps those who have accused Chris
-.o- Columbus of narrow, sectarian
S W. and of cruelty have not sufi-
:s.+,v taken into account the spirit of
y. oce in which he lived. The intol-
-.,cs the bigotry and the merciless
.,uelty of that time are sufficiently illus
...ted in that most monstrous of institu-
sons, the Spanish inquisition.
what is called the modern inquisition
80. established in Spain under the reign
', ferdinand and Isabella-sovereigns
~ho possessed many of the elements of
s-eatness, and who certainly brought
Snon to a high position among the ma
IONS of the world. Yet it was under
.ha reign of these two sovereigns that
ho monstrous inquisition was estab-
ushed.
This inquisition consisted of com
mission consisting of several judges,
whose duty it was to hunt out heretics
and nnnish them. The primary object
of the inquisition was to extirpate
every trace of heterodoXy, and make a
,ond where none but the orthodox could
live 1t succeeded in its attempt, but
the history Of its proceedings fur
n;shes one of the most bloody mar
-~Hves to which the race has ever lis
tened.
The attention Of the inquisition was
first directed against the Jews. This
thrifty race Of people then. as now,
were conspicuous for their financial i'm
nortsuce. In the course Of time many
Christians became their debtors, and it
is probable that the desire to escape
these Just debts frequently Occasioned
the seizure Of these unfortunate Jews
for heresv. The Christian not only did
not feel it incumbent upon himself to
nav his debts to heretics, but even all
their property was conhscated.
These keretics could be accused anonv-
mously, and it was not considered neces-
sary to bring the accused and the &C
cuser face to face The accused hereto
was seized without warning, conveyed
to the chambers of the inquisition and
rigidly kept from all intercourse with
the outside world. No relative or friend
to condole with him or to advise him
was permitted to come into his presence.
He was kept in ignorance of the charge
upon which he was incarcerated. Coun-
Gel was allowed him, but this was mere
formality, for this counsel was not al
lowed to confer with him.
If the prisoner refused to confess his
guilt, or was caught in evasions or con,
Predictions, he was conveyed to the tor
ture chamber, where he was submitted
to the intensest agony which it is pos
slble for human nerves to sustain.
Doubtless many innocent men declared
themselves guilty under this exquisite
torture IN order to escape the terrible
agony. Indeed death was preferable to
the torment.
The evidence upon which the herttjcs
were convicted seems to us entirely in
sufficient The presumptive proofs"
says Prescott, by which the charge Of
Judaism was established against the ac-
cused are so curious that few Of 1nerl
may deserve notice. 1t was considered
agood evidence Of the fact if the pris-
oner Wore better clothes or cleaner linen
On the Jewish Sabbath than on other
Gays OF the week; if lie had 40
IRE IN his house the Preceding even
ing; Ii he sat at table with jew.
@ ate the meat Of animals slaugh-
'ered by their hands. or drank y
certain beverage held III much e.tina-
uoh by them; If he washed Il cor3,,e in
warm wafer. or when dying turned hi
tdce 10 tAt wall; or, finally. if he cave
neoreW NAMES to his cnildrcr-a pro
VISION most Whlmsically cruel, since. bv
law OF He!lry Ii, he was prohibited
onuer sever penalties from giving them
onrlstlan names. He mu4t have found
~ uncult to extricate himself from the
nornS OF this dilemma"
the accused was found guilty. as he
usually was, he was led forth in great
ceremonial state, accompanied by pro-
.eSSlon OF high ecclesiastics, submitted
" revolving insults and ANONYMOUSLY
Ourned at the stake.
WINE Torquemada was inouisitor
, % oen' period Of eighteen years, over
IVY wOvo heretics were burned at the stake,
u ,@e Fly, 1000 burned in effigy and almost
m r%'vOo subjected to heavy and igno-
Atii'ous penalties. This makes an av-
"S q OF over 5000 persons annually.
1ne 'nqulsltion was at first directed
seallSt Jews, but afterward against
s sete'lc Christians themselves. 1t con-
~Aueu us awful work through many
seuerations, and its unfortunate victims
, "eie numbered by the hundred thou
1ne present degradation and degener-
~ ~ VI Spain is due to this cause more
wa any other. Wherever letters are
o. upon the human mind the race de-
sr. shrlvels and degenerates. Whcr-
r. w. freedom Of thought is prohibited
Soc ,ace OF intellectual pygmies must neces
t tuy result. Humanity progresses
through the influence of ORIGINAL minds