Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the TreasuryCarlile, Richard
Religion
Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the Treasury
Carlile, Richard
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Church and state -- Church of England; Rationalism
It is matter of curious observation to see how the use of names among
political parties is abused, and how they get reversed in applicable
meaning. The class that has lately taken the title of Conservatives, is
the class that, by the showing of this letter, has been destructive of
everything valuable in our Institutions, so that we have the name only
left, without any virtuous principle that formerly existed in
those Institutions. We have the evidence of this in all the present
difficulties of the country, both in Church and State. The ancestors of
this class have not known how, or not cared to preserve those ancient
Institutions in their original purity; and the class now wanted is
the class of Restoratives, of men whose knowledge, wisdom, honesty
and virtue, will enable them to purge out the accumulated errors of
centuries, and restore the Institutions of the country to their pristine
purity. I grant that this class is not found among the men who are
commonly called or claim to be called Radical Reformers: there is as
much ignorance in that class as in any other. But they certainly are
not likely to be more destructive than they who call themselves
Conservatives; for these have left nothing to be destroyed. The true
and real aim of the men now called Radicals is to begin something
a-new. Their profession of respect for existing Institutions is hollow,
hypocritical and deceitful. I have had acquaintance enough with them to
know that; and more than for the reminiscence of which I can now find
respect. Still they will supersede both Tory and Whig, if these do not
something upon the principle of a true restoration of Institutions to
original and best principles. I would have the Radicals treated as the
Dissenters: leave them no ground of complaint, and so annihilate them.
A wise King or a wise Minister would see that the time is now come
at which that step should be taken, and that further delays will be
dangerous to every man in office. Necessary Institutions, if destroyed
for a time, will rise again. I fear no kind of change as to the prospect
of future advantage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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