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1236 THE LEADER. [Saturday^
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THE PROTESTANT TURRETS IN ITALY. The tra...
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"SCOTS WHA HAE WI' WALLACE BLED." If Sco...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Ought Majorities In Atx Cases To I3e Omn...
curing a fair representation of views in morals , politics , or theology . " The proposal of the minority , it is e xpected , will meet with virulent opposition , and " Rusticus" requests us to discuss it , and to state what , if anything , can be said against it . The question is a practical one , and must receive a practical solution . Their proposal is fair enough in a commercial point of view . Minorities also , as . " Rusticus" observes , have ( theoretically ) their rights ; but practically they do not get them , and their great privilege is to strive to become the
majority . When men associate they must compromise , they must yield individual claims , and prefer the ends of their association . That end alone they must not compromise . The purpose of the society in question is the intellectual and moral improvement of its members . This should be kept steadily in view in the formation of their library . They must consider what . sort of library will best answer their purpose , not what will best represent the views of individual members . A good general library is what is wanted ; and such a library will rairly represent all views , those of the
members as well as others unknown to them . In the first place , it should include all standard works , and ^ in the next , all important works of reference ; or ( if the funds at the disposal of the society fall short of providing all such , then ) the most important standard works on all subjects ; and a committee will "be best able to determine which these are . How , supposing the proposal of the minority adopted , are such works to be provided ? One may have a favourite author , another , another ; but it does not follow that in course of time all the best authors will be selected ! Besides ,
there is too general a tendency , under such an arrangement ( which we have seen in operation ) to introduce books on special Subjects—of interest only to the members who order them . A doctor orders the work on medicine which he should have purchased for his own use ; the clergyman orders a commentary ; and the curate a book of sermons ; while Mrs . —— insists on the interesting new work on crotchet ! Now , if a member wants a book or books on shop subjects , he should buy it or them for himself . It is plain that by the plan proposed by the minority the end of the association mierht be defeated .
So far we differ from " Rusticus , " that we recommend the appointment of a committee to superintend the formation of the library . But let its " members be well selected . The committee should contain one representative , at least , of every class in the association ; if possible , the most intelligent of his class , and there rarely is a difficulty in deciding who he is . Towards the object which " Rusticus" appears to have especially in view , we would recommend that the committee be obliged
to place on the library shelves rany book agreed upon by a certain number , ( to be determined ) of the members , ' and- that the- number be small in proportion to'the whole , ' society . By this means , a book for which there is a class of readers provided will-. always ¦ ' ' . 'be certain of introduction . With this proviso , and care in the selection of the committee , ' difficulties should be partially removed from ; the harmonious association of men of diffbrerit'crfceds either in politics or religion .
As for the bigoted intolerance complained of by " Rusticus , " we have not overlooked it , and arcsoihy to say that there are few places in which it id not' to be found . In small country towns it must ,-be particularly irritating . Whon a book is forbidden because of the opinions it contains , there is danger of a split in the camp . It is eurunisenou « h that our parsons erect themselves into popes within the limits of their parishes , and undertake to determine what their ilocks shall road and what they shall not read . No doubt they do so in pursuit
of that grand end—self-interest ; and have a peculiar pleasure in standing sentinel over the forbidden fruit of knowledge . They denounce the Pope because he forbids inquiry , and especially because he prohibits the rending of the- Word . In their turn they damn other Words , forbidding their flocks to read them under penalty of eternal death , and arc too stupid as a rule to be struck by the inconsistency of their conduct ; . Wo do not expect that any library , formed under such auspices , will fhirly represent the views of the people .
In n case which came under our own observation , a mechanics' institute having got into financial difficulties , au appeal was made to the clergyman , among others , for assistance ; which ho refused , on the grounds that the mechanics ' library contained the works of Charming and
Emerson , both of whom he classed with infidel writers ! Having intimated his intention to erect a Christian Young Men ' s Association on the ruins of the institute , the efforts of its friends were redoubled , and its finances repaired , not only without his assistance , but in spite of his intervention . It was found , on inquiry , that he had read neither of the works to which he objected , on the princip le that one should not taste poison to ascertain its injurious properties . It is useless to remark ^ the deplorable ignorance which classed Channing
with infidels , or the still more deplorable weakness which induced this clergyman to'arrest the progress of his mind by abstaining from whatever did not go to back up his own dearly-loved prejudices , or to contract his already narrow views . " Try all things ; hold fast that which is gQod , " was a maxim worthy of the Christian gentleman and philosopher who used it . " Try nothing ; and hold fast what I tell you , " is the unphilosophic version of the apostolic maxim now in use with the majority of parsons .
1236 The Leader. [Saturday^
1236 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ^
The Protestant Turrets In Italy. The Tra...
THE PROTESTANT TURRETS IN ITALY . The traveller entering Turin by the Via derRe , one of the newest and handsomest streets in a capital whose approaches are amongst the finest of Europe , would lift his eyes at the sight of a building which he had never seen before—a tall church , in the old Lombard style , with turrets and pinnacles rising against the open sky .
Churches are not uncommon sights m Italy , nor is it unusual to see a concourse gathering to the edifice ; and the traveller would enter without any feelings of astonishment . But what would be his surprise to mark the absence of the costume with which he is familiar in that theatre , and to hear from the pulpit the doctrines , not of Popery , but of Protestantism ! Where is he ? Amongst whom does he stand ?
He stands in a Protestant congregation . The people around him are the Valdesi or Waldenses , that Protestant race whoso early adopted the doctrines of the Reformation . Although proscribed , persecuted , and put to the sword , long years have they undergone their tribulation faithfully . Recently the English Government and people had extended to them a faint sympathy . An English divine wrote a book about them , and was rewarded with a prebendal stall in Durham Cathedral . An English gentleman , General Beckwith , has generously given money for their congregational and scholastic institutions ; but the hand of Popery remained heavy upon them , and they were still a proscribed sect .
In the meanwhile changes have taken place in Italy ; 1848 has not been quite in vain . King Charles Albert once more conceived the idea of introducing constitutional freedom into his patrimonial kingdom ; and although , as it had done before , his saturnine temperament vacillated ; although the uncompleted effort cost him his life , and his dying ears listened in exile to reproaches more strongly expressed than praises , his heart is still in his country , and his son has carried on his mission . Our Government , after many earnest despatches rebuking Austria , after inciting the Duke of Genoa to accept the crown of Sicily , left
Sicily and Sardinia to their fate . There have been conflicting councils in Turin , disaffections in Genoa , uncertainty of purpose in the very Ministry , and intrigues against Victor Emanuel , which Austria levelled at him from Milan , and the Pope could introduce into the churches of Turin itself . Still , sustained by the groat body of the public in Piedmont , the Government has stood firm to constitutional freedom ; and the ceremony which was performed in that new church on the 15 th of this month marked the crowning triumph for the coTirse on which the King , Government , and people of Piedmont have taken their march . No
longer proscribed , the Waldenses are taken by the hand and admitted to equality of citizenship and religions freedom . The representatives of Prussia and England assisted at the ceremony ; the newly-elected Deputy of the Valdeai was one of the congregation ; and the congregation , under their punt ; oi \ s , put forth , in the capital of the Catholic King , the 1 rotestant prayer of a common Christianity , beseeching safety and stability for a atnto which has secured to its people these great immunities .
And thin wan on Italian soil . Much lias been made by Protestautn of proselytes here and there A courier and Inn wife were the objects of welcome nnd rejoicing ; but how much more rejoicing iy
demanded by this event ! A great tract of ground is " secured , on which Protestant and Catholic may freely tread with equal step . Nor is it only a gain to the Waldenses or to Protestantism in granting what he has , Bang Victor Emanuel ' has not only vouchsafed a boon from his own bounty but he has braved the enemies who before sought to undermine his power . They will now ; have greater reason than ever to hate the constitutionafSovereign who has established on Italian soil an exem * plar and model of constitutional and religious freedom . To raze the church which lifts its turrets to the sky , and proclaims to all Italy ^ from the Alps to the Bay of Naples , immunity for Protestant doctrine—to raze that church , Pope and
Emperor , Grand Duke and Priest , will have a new impulse to pull down the crown and the constitution that guard the church . The Protestant Alliance was not long since importuning Lord Clarendon to secure immunity for the fellow-proselytes of theMadiai , still languishing under Tuscan proscription ; some would have made Miss CunlnglTaine the Helen of a Protestant crusade ; but here is a kingdom spontaneously establishing itself as the constitutional stronghold of political and religious freedom in Italy—braving by the act the enmity of ancient and powerful adversaries ; and surely claiming , far more than any precarious pro - selytism , the political support of an ally like England .
"Scots Wha Hae Wi' Wallace Bled." If Sco...
" SCOTS WHA HAE WI' WALLACE BLED . " If Scotland would only be equal to herself , she would not have any occasion to complain of being put upon by England . The allegation which Lord Eglinton makes on behalf of his beloved country , and amid acclamations of his beloved countrymen , from platforms in Edinburgh and Glasgow , is , that Scotland is slighted by ; the'Government , does not have its due share in the personnel of office , does not occupy its right place in the " achievement" of the royal arms , lacks a floor to its Holyrood Palace , and a roof to its Glasgow Post-office ;
and , in short , is neglected and despised by the very Government to whom it furnishes a Premier . According to this statement by the Lord of the Tournament , the Thistle , which so boldly declares "Nemo me impune lacessit "—" no one unscathed shall hurt me "—is quite accustomed to be gnawed by every English jackass , and is kicked even by its own native ass , when that animal is promoted to some English capacity . It is to no purpose that English writers answer Lord Eglinton and his coadjutors out of their own mouths . Professor Aytoun , for instance , comp lains that Scotland has no Secretary of State , but only a
Lord Advocate , and stultifies his complaint bytue admission that the Scottish Lords Advocate have been distinguished for zeal and ability , only they have the Lordly instead of the Secretarial title . You refute yourselves , cries the Times . Still we do not see the force of the retort . If Scotland wishes its Lord Advocate to be called Secretary of State , and cannot obtain even that trifling humblea
boon , the great nation of the North is ; and no representation that its demand is trilling , can have any effect but to aggravate the humiliation . It is true that the national palace lias Dceu cursed with a floor so unstable that the puduc could not come into look at the Peers at ^ thei law election of a representative , for fear ot wwo through ; while Hampton Court rejoices m » flooring as stable as it is ornamental , and over * week siiHtains the mublic throiurinff to look flt i
pictures . It is true that St . Ttfartm £ -le-l * a " has a Post-office which vies with the Parthenon , and that Glasgow still complains of a post ?* post to the pelting of the pitiless storm . And it J « 7 rood cannot obtain a roof , nor Glasgow a nw , the privation is not disproved by showing tnai claim is small . . inlesfl-Still , as success is the test of merit , so llC 1 } ,, . •• „ .. _!• _ o , i . „ » . . „ ,, /! ana nut " " Y ,, is the of demerit and one iuwu * jj
ness proof ; asks how it is that Scotland , which can boa ^ . ^ such great achievements , cannot get a « oo -j palace , a roof to its post-office , or a sccf ^ ii 4 title to its Minister P Is it because » c 0 " t 0 behind Scotchmen ? It is rather y ro J * their contrast the boasts Scotchmen put fortn i ^ own countrymen with the way m w » ( <^ c adopt the teaching of thoso countrymen .
glory , " says Lord Eglinton— fc . , HOn , " Wo glor / in tho triumphs of a Marlborougn , *^ ^ | l 0 and a Wellington ; but aro wo not to look ^ l"J RP p laaao . ) nehiovemonts of a Wallace and n Bruco ? V ^ * J flrrottli , Wo road with delight tho works of l * y . ron ' ' ^ jally our Dickens , and Bulvvor , but can wo not claim na » i
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1853, page 12, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24121853/page/12/
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