THE TWO PAX’S.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 249, 17 September 1870, Page 4

THE TWO PAX’S.

“ Both sides deceived, ifrightly understood, . Pelting each other for the'public good.” ■ " -- Oowper. To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —A fortnight ago you granted me a portion of your space, a,nd as I do not intend to be prolix, I venture once more tos olicit a' similar favor. { I Although I differ widely in my opinions from both the disputants, and still think their time might be much better employed, I cannot help expressing my astonishment at the audacious statements made by “Justitia ot Pax ’’ in the columns of your contemporary the News, of last week. Out of three columns of chaff I cannot extract a single line of argument worthy of the name, while the personality of style, and the extraordinary warping of historical facts, shojw" plainly to any unprejudiced mind how weak the cause must be which stands in need of su<ih

defences. The man must be extremely ignorant of history, ancient and modern, who cannot call to mind a few brilliant examples of the tender mercy of Christian churches. The racks, thumb screws, and steel boots, are still existing relics of the brotherly love engendered under the teaching of Christian priesthood ; as tenderly affectionate as “ Justitia’s ” commentary on the bloody doings of the Inquisition : “Very few were condemned to death by that tribunal, . , . and no dovbt they deserved it.” What godlike mercy ! what Christian love ! What might I expect from the hands of the man who could pen that line, if he only had me in his power ? The shouts of the mob in favor of the Holy Inquisition- (admitting the statement to be true) are no proof of its real popularity, or gentle rule ; for did not the mob shout “Viva la Guillotine” in the days of Marat and Robespierre. lam not going even to insinuate that all the cruelty and persecution which has disgraced the world’s history was perpetrated by the so-called “Holy Office.” Protestants, from the days of Melanctbon to the present hour, are equally intolerant; they only lack the power. That has been wrenched from them by the spread of scientific truth, and that glorious privilege of our age, ‘ ‘ the Press ” —a privilege which bigotry too often seeks to warp to its own degrading ends. Happily for us, it does not often succeed, and where partially so the advocates of priestcraft can only sigh, and say with the poet—- “ Whale’er we write, we bring forth nothing new.” Their arguments are thread-bare, and “ Fall soporific on the listless car; Like quicksilver, the rhetoric they display Shines as it runs, but grasped at, slips away.” —I am, &c., A New Man.