New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-13
ABOUT THE INOUISITION
Not Nearly SO Bad as Painted, He
Thinks.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In reply 10 Mr.. Liverant's letter
would say that if the gentleman reads
history as ne seems to have read my
letter in The Tribune's issue of the I'd
inst, then can understand his erro-
neous ideas about the InquistiOn.
| did not cite the America" as an
authority on the Inquisition. but as a
witness against Haeckel. The Amer
lea" was simply repeating German press
reports hold no brief for the Amer
ica." but ! may say that have always
found it sure of its focts.
Mr.. Liverant takes issue with my
statement that the Inquisition was a
civil tribunal. not Church affair.
Unbiased history attests the truth Of
this assertion. The following are my
authorities: Leopold Rankc says: THE
lnquisition was a royal court of judi
cature." Again the same writer: at
was in spirit and tendency, above all.
"A political institution. The Pope had
an interest in thwartng IL: and he did
so, and as often as he could. But the
King had an interest in constantly up
holding it" wide Ottoman and Spanish
Empires" J.. Ranke. lSt5. p. 1879.
Kindly remember that Kanke is 4 Prot.
estant. The King appointed the IN
qulstor general. and the subordinates
OF this general had 10 have the Kings
approval. That does not look as if the
lnquisition was "Church affair"
In 1872 the Spanish Cortes, assem-
bled for the drafting of new consttu-
ton. appointed a committee Of learned
men TO report on the lnquisit.on. These
learned men were violently opposed 10
the lnqui5itlon, and they were not par
tial to the Church. Yet they assert that
at the lnqulsition was an institution
demanded and established by the mon
archs of Spain in difficult and extraor-
binary circumstances They also de-
clare that mo decree of the Inquisi-
ton could be published without con-
sent OF the King wide Report Cor.
tes." 1872.
Moreover, u. Guizot, a famous nisto-
rian and Calvinist, says: at was At
first more political than religious and
destined to maintain order rather than
10 defend the faith" wide Cour's
"D'Histoire Modcrnc." Paris, Vol. V.
Lecture IL. Surely, tho gentleman will
not suspect these witnesses of bias
toward Rome. Relative 10 Mr.. Live
rants statement that "a comparison OF
the lnqulsiton with New York judicial
procedure is an insult 70 the latter
New York ," ! would say that there is
no ground for such charge if one has
read the true history of the InGuisition.
Here Is the testimony of an unpreju
diced witness. NJ. Bourgoing, a violent
opponent of the lnquisition and French
Plenlpotentlary to Spain IN 1889.
writes: 81 will acknowledge, in order to
give homage to the truth, that the
lnqulsltlon might be cited IN our DAYS
as a model of equity" ("Picturc Of
Spain journal des Debats," Scptem-
Der II. ls05). Kindly remember that
"our days" were the days of liberty.
fraternity and equality.
Moreover, the lnquisition handed
over the accused to punishment only
after he OF she had been tried three
times. Three Illnesses were required
IN each trial and three different sets
OF witnesses IN each separate trial. Il
IS pretty fair court which tries a man
three times before sentencing him to
punishment. Finally, | would advise
MIR. Livcrant not 10 believe all the ro-
nance that is written about the lnoui-
sltion. Romance is not history.
JAMES S. REILLY.
Broo.lyn. July 6. 1914.