The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
We refer above to the _Univers_, the organ of the Roman Catholic party in
France. The editor of that print, at a dinner recently given for Bishop
Hughes, at the Astor House, was complimented in a toast by our excellent
collector, Maxwell, who, of course, endorses the following choice
paragraph:
"A heretic," observes the editor of the _Univers_,
"examined and convicted by the church, used to be
delivered over to the secular power, and punished with
death. Nothing has ever appeared to us more natural, or
more necessary. More than 100,000 persons perished in
consequence of the heresy of Wicliff; a still greater
number by that of John Huss; it would not be possible
to calculate the bloodshed caused by the heresy of
Luther, and _it is not yet over_. After three centuries
we are at the eve of a recommencement. The prompt
repression of the disciples of Luther, and a crusade
against Protestantism, would have spared Europe three
centuries of discord and of catastrophes in which
France and civilization may perish. It was under the
influence of such reflections that I wrote the phrase
which has so excited the virtuous indignation of the
Red journals. Here it is:--'For my part, I avow frankly
my regret is not only that they did not sooner burn
John Huss, but that they did not equally burn Luther;
and I regret, further, that there had not been at the
same time some prince sufficiently pious and politic to
have made a crusade against the Protestants.' Well,
this paragraph might have been better penned; but as I
have the happiness to belong to those who care little
about mere forms of expression, I will not revoke it. I
accept it as it is, and with a certain satisfaction at
finding myself faithful to my opinions. That which I
wrote in 1838 I still believe. Let the Red
philanthropists print their declaration in any sort of
type they please, and as often as they please. Let them
add their commentaries, and place all to my account.
The day that I cancel it, they will be justified in
holding the opinion of me which I hold of them."
Far be it from us to meddle with the quarrels of the theologians--even by
reprinting any attack an adversary makes on the worst of them. We merely
copy these paragraphs from famous defenders of the Catholic Church, as an
act of justice to her, against those slandering Protestants who say she has
changed--she, the infallible and ever consistent!
* * * * *
The "leading journal of the world" occasionally indulges in a pleasantry,
as in this example:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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