The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1918-03-22


illtimed and in very doubtful taste;
nor was it in any means calculated
to impress his youthful audience with
the refinement and scholarship which
the legal profession is rightfully ac-
credited with. But no matter how
novel Mr.. Darrow's theory of educa-
ton, one would expect that he would
present his views in a broad and
liberal spirit; and that he would
scrupulously avoid everything that
might give pain or offense. Yet Mr..
barrow, noted criminal lawyer that
he is reputed to be, could not rise
above the narrowness and prejudice
of his class. No address, no matter
what the subject. would be symmet-
rical or complete without reference
to the system of persecution of which
Borne was "The Parent" and "fount-
ain head. This led Mr.. barrow into
a serious pitfall. He referred more
than once to certain studies Gram
mar and Latin to-wit:) as relics of
the Spanish Inquisition. If he want
ed Ito paint moral or adorn tale"
he need not have travelled outside his
own country. He would find abun-
dant material in the Blue Laws Of
New England, which were every whit
as odious and tyrannical as those of
the Inquisition, and more indefen-
sible as the enactments of men who
fled not from the persecution of
Rome, be it observed, but of the So
called Reformed Churches of Europe;
or he could have found abundance of
material in the penal code enacted
against the Catholics of England and
Ireland; code which for ferocious
cruelty and barbarity makes the In
QUESTION tribunal of leniency and
mercy. Of this Infamous code, the
great Edmund Burke said, at has a
vicious perfection, we'll digested and
well disposed in all its parts. A
machine of elaborate continuance
and as well fitted for the oppression
and degradation of a people and the
debasement in them of human nature,
itself as ever proceeded from the per-
verified ingenuity Of man." And Mr..
Lecky whose partially does not lean
toward the Catholic church observes,
The annals of persecution contain
no instance of series of laws more
deliberately and ingeniously formed
to debase their victims" and he
quotes DR.. Johnson for the statement
that There is no instance even in
the ten prosecutions Of such severity
as that which the Professionals of Ire
land enlisted against Catholics"
The eminent Protestant historian
Hallorm pronounces the same opinion
as Lecky. Persecution he says, "the
deadly original sin of the Reformed
churches which costs every honest
mans zeal for their cause in pro-
portion as his reading becomes more
extensive" The Protestant historian
sonar. On what principal of fair
play or morality does Mr.. barrow
ana men like him attach the note of
iinIfamy to the Catholics only? If
the whole school is guilty, why is the
unpopular boy alone selected for the
hogging? But | protest against the
introduction of a topic which was IN
no way pertinent to his subject and
whicn could serve no purpose except
TO give offence and to perpetuate a
SANDER. | may add that / have no
intention to palliate. much less to de-
fend the excuses and abuses of the
lnquisition. No Catholic could de-
fend abuses and cruelties which the
Pope himself condemned.
l do not write this letter i'm way of.
denomination or to provoke i'll feel
ing, but to show that fair and learned
Professionals admit the unfairness of
making the Catholic church the
scape goat when all the rest are tar
red with the same stick.
II AS | have already exceeded the
limit which l promised to myself and
which you may be able to afford me
| shall conclude by stating that
First:-The Spanish Inquisition
was mainly political institution and
the result of extraordinary political
circumstances.
Second:-Its cruelties have been
greatly exaggerated.
Third:-The Catholic church is not
responsible for the institution much
less for its abuses real or alleged.
But the people generally are not al
lowed to know these facts. They
get their information from grossly
prejudiced sources. Hence to them,
the Inquisition to them denotes every
thing that is odious, hateful, cruel
and oppressive. They are taught to
believe that the Inquisition and the
church are one and the same insti-
tuition and that what is affirmed by
one, may be affirmed of the other.
While on the other hand they are
made to think that the Protestant
sects are in this respect immaculate
and above reproach.
venture to say the unbiased
student will find this to be the teach
ing on this vexed question by impair
tial historians. The Catholic church
has nothing I'd fear from the truth.
Yours, George Clarson
st. Mary's Rectory
March 18th, 1918
ZIP. s.. All the aufhorifioe cifod ,,ro,o