ButMr。Gladstonehasotherargumentsagainstpersecution，argumentswhichareofsomuchweight，thattheyaredecisivenotonlyagainstpersecutionbutagainsthiswholetheory。"TheGovernment，"hesays，"isincompetenttoexerciseminuteandconstantsupervisionoverreligiousopinion。"Andhenceheinfers，that"aGovernmentexceedsitsprovincewhenitcomestoadaptascaleofpunishmentstovariationsinreligiousopinion，accordingtotheirrespectivedegreesofvariationfromtheestablishedcreed。Todeclineaffordingcountenancetosectsisasingleandsimplerule。Topunishtheirprofessors，accordingtotheirseveralerrors，evenweretherenootherobjection，isoneforwhichtheStatemustassumefunctionswhollyecclesiastical，andforwhichitisnotintrinsicallyfitted。"
Thisis，inouropinion，quitetrue。ButhowdoesitagreewithMr。Gladstone’stheory？What！theGovernmentincompetenttoexerciseevensuchadegreeofsupervisionoverreligiousopinionasisimpliedbythepunishmentofthemostdeadlyheresy！TheGovernmentincompetenttomeasureeventhegrossestdeviationsfromthestandardoftruth！TheGovernmentnotintrinsicallyqualifiedtojudgeofthecomparativeenormityofanytheologicalerrors！TheGovernmentsoignorantonthesesubjectsthatitiscompelledtoleave，notmerelysubtleheresies，discernibleonlybytheeyeofaCyriloraBucer，butSocinianism，Deism，Mahometanism，Idolatry，Atheism，unpunished！TowhomdoesMr。
GladstoneassigntheofficeofselectingareligionfortheState，fromamonghundredsofreligions，everyoneofwhichlaysclaimtotruth？EventothissameGovernment，whichisnowpronouncedtobesounfitfortheologicalinvestigationsthatitcannotventuretopunishamanforworshippingalumpofstonewithascoreofheadsandhands。Wedonotrememberevertohavefalleninwithamoreextraordinaryinstanceofinconsistency。
WhenMr。GladstonewishestoprovethattheGovernmentoughttoestablishandendowareligion，andtofenceitwithaTestAct，Governmentis_topan_inthemoralworld。Thosewhowouldconfineittosecularendstakealowviewofitsnature。Areligionmustbeattachedtoitsagency;andthisreligionmustbethatoftheconscienceofthegovernor，ornone。ItisfortheGovernortodecidebetweenPapistsandProtestants，JansenistsandMolinists，ArminiansandCalvinists，EpiscopaliansandPresbyterians，SabelliansandTritheists，HomoousiansandHomoiousians，NestoriansandEutychians，MonothelitesandMonophysites，PaedobaptistsandAnabaptists。ItisforhimtorejudgetheActsofNiceandRimini，ofEphesusandChalcedon，ofConstantinopleandSt。JohnLateran，ofTrentandDort。ItisforhimtoarbitratebetweentheGreekandtheLatinprocession，andtodeterminewhetherthatmysteriousfilioqueshallorshallnothaveaplaceinthenationalcreed。Whenhehasmadeuphismind，heistotaxthewholecommunityinordertopaypeopletoteachhisopinion，whateveritmaybe。Heistorelyonhisownjudgment，thoughitmaybeopposedtothatofnine—tenthsofthesociety。Heistoactonhisownjudgment，attheriskofexcitingthemostformidablediscontents。Heistoinflict，perhapsonagreatmajorityofthepopulation，what，whetherwechoosetocallitpersecutionornot，willalwaysbefeltaspersecutionbythosewhosufferit。Heis，onaccountofdifferencesoftentooslightforvulgarcomprehension，todeprivetheStateoftheservicesoftheablestmen。Heistodebaseandenfeeblethecommunitywhichhegoverns，fromanationintoasect。Inourowncountry，forexample，millionsofCatholics，millionsofProtestantDissenters，aretobeexcludedfromallpowerandhonours。Agreathostilefleetisonthesea;butNelsonisnottocommandintheChannelifinthemysteryoftheTrinityheconfoundsthepersons。AninvadingarmyhaslandedinKent;buttheDukeofWellingtonisnottobeattheheadofourforcesifhedividesthesubstance。Andafterallthis，Mr。
Gladstonetellsus，thatitwouldbewrongtoimprisonaJew，aMussulman，oraBuddhist，foraday;becausereallyaGovernmentcannotunderstandthesematters，andoughtnottomeddlewithquestionswhichbelongtotheChurch。Asingulartheologian，indeed，thisGovernment！Solearned，thatitiscompetenttoexcludeGrotiusfromofficeforbeingaSemi—Pelagian，sounlearnedthatitisincompetenttofineaHindoopeasantarupeeforgoingonapilgrimagetoJuggernaut。
"Tosolicitandpersuadeoneanother，"saysMr。Gladstone，"areprivilegeswhichbelongtousall;andthewiserandbettermanisboundtoadvisethelesswiseandgood;butheisnotonlynotbound，heisnotallowed，speakinggenerally，tocoercehim。Itisuntrue，then，thatthesameconsiderationswhichbindaGovernmenttosubmitareligiontothefreechoiceofthepeoplewouldthereforejustifytheirenforcingitsadoption。"
Granted。ButitistruethatallthesameconsiderationswhichwouldjustifyaGovernmentinpropagatingareligionbymeansofcivildisabilitieswouldjustifythepropagatingofthatreligionbypenallaws。Tosolicit！IsitsolicitationtotellaCatholicDuke，thathemustabjurehisreligionorwalkoutoftheHouseofLords？Topersuade！Isitpersuasiontotellabarristerofdistinguishedeloquenceandlearningthatheshallgrowoldinhisstuffgown，whilehispupilsareseatedabovehiminermine，becausehecannotdigestthedamnatoryclausesoftheAthanasianCreed？WouldMr。Gladstonethinkthatareligioussystemwhichheconsidersasfalse，Socinianismforexample，wassubmittedtohisfreechoice，ifitweresubmittedintheseterms？——"IfyouobstinatelyadheretothefaithoftheNicenefathers，youshallnotbeburnedinSmithfield;youshallnotbesenttoDorchestergaol;youshallnotevenpaydoubleland—tax。Butyoushallbeshutoutfromallsituationsinwhichyoumightexerciseyourtalentswithhonourtoyourselfandadvantagetothecountry。TheHouseofCommons，thebenchofmagistracy，arenotforsuchasyou。Youshallseeyoungermen，yourinferiorsinstationandtalents，risetothehighestdignitiesandattractthegazeofnations，whileyouaredoomedtoneglectandobscurity。Ifyouhaveasonofthehighestpromise，asonsuchasotherfatherswouldcontemplatewithdelight，thedevelopmentofhisfinetalentsandofhisgenerousambitionshallbeatorturetoyou。
Youshalllookonhimasabeingdoomedtolead，asyouhaveled，theabjectlifeofaRomanoraNeapolitaninthemidstofagreatEnglishpeople。Allthosehighhonours，somuchmorepreciousthanthemostcostlygiftsofdespots，withwhichafreecountrydecoratesitsillustriouscitizens，shallbetohim，astheyhavebeentoyou，objectsnotofhopeandvirtuousemulation，butofhopeless，enviouspining。Educatehim，ifyouwishhimtofeelhisdegradation。Educatehim，ifyouwishtostimulatehiscravingforwhathenevermustenjoy。Educatehim，ifyouwouldimitatethebarbarityofthatCeltictyrantwhofedhisprisonersonsaltedfoodtilltheycalledeagerlyfordrink，andthenletdownanemptycupintothedungeonandleftthemtodieofthirst。"Isthistosolicit，topersuade，tosubmitreligiontothefreechoiceofman？Wouldafineofathousandpounds，wouldimprisonmentinNewgateforsixmonths，undercircumstancesnotdisgraceful，giveMrGladstonethepainwhichhewouldfeel，ifheweretobetoldthathewastobedealtwithinthewayinwhichhewouldhimselfdealwithmorethanonehalfofhiscountrymen？
WearenotatallsurprisedtofindsuchinconsistencyeveninamanofMr。Gladstone’stalents。Thetruthis，thateverymanis，toagreatextent，thecreatureoftheage。Itistonopurposethatheresiststheinfluencewhichthevastmass，inwhichheisbutanatom，mustexerciseonhim。Hemaytrytobeamanofthetenthcentury:buthecannot。Whetherhewillornot，hemustbeamanofthenineteenthcentury。Hesharesinthemotionofthemoralaswellasinthatofthephysicalworld。HecannomorebeasintolerantashewouldhavebeeninthedaysoftheTudorsthanhecanstandintheeveningexactlywherehestoodinthemorning。Theglobegoesroundfromwesttoeast;andhemustgoroundwithit。Whenhesaysthatheiswherehewas，hemeansonlythathehasmovedatthesameratewithallaroundhim。Whenhesaysthathehasgoneagoodwaytothewestward，hemeansonlythathehasnotgonetotheeastwardquitesorapidlyashisneighbours。Mr。Gladstone’sbookis，inthisrespect，averygratifyingperformance。Itisthemeasureofwhatamancandotobeleftbehindbytheworld。Itisthestrenuouseffortofaveryvigorousmindtokeepasfarintherearofthegeneralprogressaspossible。Andyet，withthemostintenseexertionMr。
Gladstonecannothelpbeing，onsomeimportantpoints，greatlyinadvanceofLockehimself;and，withwhateveradmirationhemayregardLaud，itiswellforhim，wecantellhim，thathedidnotwriteinthedaysofthatzealousprimate，whowouldcertainlyhaverefutedtheexpositionsofScripturewhichwehavequoted，byoneofthekeenestargumentsthatcanbeaddressedtohumanears。
ThisisnottheonlyinstanceinwhichMr。Gladstonehasshrunkinaveryremarkablemannerfromtheconsequencesofhisowntheory。Iftherebeinthewholeworldastatetowhichthistheoryisapplicable，thatstateistheBritishEmpireinIndia。
Evenwe，whodetestpaternalgovernmentsingeneral，shalladmitthatthedutiesoftheGovernmentofIndiaare，toaconsiderableextent，paternal。There，thesuperiorityofthegovernorstothegovernedinmoralscienceisunquestionable。TheconversionofthewholepeopletotheworstformthatChristianityeverworeinthedarkestageswouldbeamosthappyevent。ItisnotnecessarythatamanshouldbeaChristiantowishforthepropagationofChristianityinIndia。ItissufficientthatheshouldbeanEuropeannotmuchbelowtheordinaryEuropeanlevelofgoodsenseandhumanity。Comparedwiththeimportanceoftheinterestsatstake，allthoseScotchandIrishquestionswhichoccupysolargeaportionofMr。Gladstone’sbook，sinkintoinsignificance。InnopartoftheworldsincethedaysofTheodosiushassolargeaheathenpopulationbeensubjecttoaChristiangovernment。Innopartoftheworldisheathenismmorecruel，morelicentious，morefruitfulofabsurdritesandperniciouslaws。Surely，ifitbethedutyofGovernmenttouseitspoweranditsrevenueinordertobringsevenmillionsofIrishCatholicsovertotheProtestantChurch，itisafortiorithedutyoftheGovernmenttouseitspoweranditsrevenueinordertomakeseventymillionsofidolatersChristians。IfitbeasintosufferJohnHowardorWilliamPenntoholdanyofficeinEnglandbecausetheyarenotincommunionwiththeEstablishedChurch，itmustbeacryingsinindeedtoadmittohighsituationsmenwhobowdown，intemplescoveredwithemblemsofvice，tothehideousimagesofsensualormalevolentgods。
Butno。Orthodoxy，itseems，ismoreshockedbythepriestsofRomethanbythepriestsofKalee。Theplainredbrickbuilding，theCaveofAdullam，orEbenezerChapel，whereuneducatedmenhearahalf—educatedmantalkoftheChristianlawofloveandtheChristianhopeofglory，isunworthyoftheindulgencewhichisreservedfortheshrinewheretheThugsuspendsaportionofthespoilsofmurderedtravellers，andforthecarwhichgrindsitswaythroughthebonesofself—immolatedpilgrims。"Itwouldbe，"saysMr。Gladstone，"anabsurdexaggerationtomaintainitasthepartofsuchaGovernmentasthatoftheBritishinIndiatobringhometothedoorofeverysubjectatoncetheministrationsofanewandtotallyunknownreligion。"TheGovernmentoughtindeedtodesiretopropagateChristianity。Buttheextenttowhichtheymustdosomustbe"limitedbythedegreeinwhichthepeoplearefoundwillingtoreceiveit。"HeproposesnosuchlimitationinthecaseofIreland。HewouldgivetheIrishaProtestantChurchwhethertheylikeitornot。"Webelieve，"sayshe，"thatthatwhichweplacebeforethemis，whethertheyknowitornot，calculatedtobebeneficialtothem;
andthat，iftheyknowitnotnow，theywillknowitwhenitispresentedtothemfairly。Shallwe，then，purchasetheirapplauseattheexpenseoftheirsubstantial，nay，theirspiritualinterests？"
AndwhydoesMr。GladstoneallowtotheHindooaprivilegewhichhedeniestotheIrishman？Whydoeshereservehisgreatestliberalityforthemostmonstrouserrors？Whydoeshepaymostrespecttotheopinionoftheleastenlightenedpeople？WhydoeshewithholdtherighttoexercisepaternalauthorityfromthatoneGovernmentwhichisfittertoexercisepaternalauthoritythananyGovernmentthateverexistedintheworld？Wewillgivethereasoninhisownwords。
"InBritishIndia，"hesays，"asmallnumberofpersonsadvancedtoahighergradeofcivilisation，exercisethepowersofgovernmentoveranimmenselygreaternumberoflesscultivatedpersons，notbycoercion，butunderfreestipulationwiththegoverned。Now，therightsofaGovernment，incircumstancesthuspeculiar，obviouslydependneitherupontheunrestrictedtheoryofpaternalprinciples，noruponanyprimordialorfictitiouscontractofindefinitepowers，butuponanexpressandknowntreaty，matterofpositiveagreement，notofnaturalordinance。"
WhereMr。Gladstonehasseenthistreatywecannotguessfor，thoughhecallsita"knowntreaty，"wewillstakeourcreditthatitisquiteunknownbothatCalcuttaandMadras，bothinLeadenhallStreetandCannonRow，thatitisnottobefoundinanyoftheenormousfoliosofpapersrelatingtoIndiawhichfillthebookcasesofmembersofParliament，thatithasutterlyescapedtheresearchesofallthehistoriansofourEasternempire，that，inthelongandinterestingdebatesof1813ontheadmissionofmissionariestoIndia，debatesofwhichthemostvaluableparthasbeenexcellentlypreservedbythecareofthespeakers，noallusiontothisimportantinstrumentistobefound。Thetruthisthatthistreatyisanonentity。Itisbycoercion，itisbythesword，andnotbyfreestipulationwiththegoverned，thatEnglandruleIndia;norisEnglandboundbyanycontractwhatevernottodealwithBengalasshedealswithIreland。ShemaysetupaBishopofPatna，andaDeanofHoogley;
shemaygrantawaythepublicrevenueforthemaintenanceofprebendariesofBenaresandcanonsofMoorshedabad;shemaydividethecountryintoparishes，andplace，arectorwithastipendineveryoneofthem;andallthiswithoutinfringinganypositiveagreement。Iftherebesuchatreaty，Mr。Gladstonecanhavenodifficultyinmakingknownitsdate，itsterms，and，aboveallthepreciseextentoftheterritorywithinwhichwehavesinfullyboundourselvestobeguiltyofpracticalatheism。
Thelastpointisofgreatimportance。For，astheprovincesofourIndianempirewereacquiredatdifferenttimes，andinverydifferentways，nosingletreaty，indeednotentreaties，willjustifythesystempursuedbyourGovernmentthere。
Theplainstateofthecaseisthis。NomaninhissenseswoulddreamofapplyingMr。Gladstone’stheorytoIndia;because，ifsoapplied，itwouldinevitablydestroyourempire，and，withourempire，thebestchanceofspreadingChristianityamongthenatives。ThisMr。Gladstonefelt。Insomewayorotherhistheorywastobesaved，andthemonstrousconsequencesavoided。Ofintentionalmisrepresentationwearequitesurethatheisincapable。Butwecannotacquithimofthatunconsciousdisingenuousnessfromwhichthemostuprightman，whenstronglyattachedtoanopinion，isseldomwhollyfree。Webelievethatherecoiledfromtheruinousconsequenceswhichhissystemwouldproduce，iftriedinIndia;butthathedidnotliketosayso，lestheshouldlayhimselfopentothechargeofsacrificingprincipletoexpediency，awordwhichisheldintheutmostabhorrencebyallhisschool。Accordingly，hecaughtatthenotionofatreaty，anotionwhichmust，wethink，haveoriginatedinsomerhetoricalexpressionwhichhehasimperfectlyunderstood。Thereisoneexcellentwayofavoidingthedrawingofafalseconclusionfromafalsemajor;andthatisbyhavingafalseminor。Inaccuratehistoryisanadmirablecorrectiveofunreasonabletheory。Andthusitisinthepresentcase。Abadgeneralruleislaiddown，andobstinatelymaintained，wherevertheconsequencesarenottoomonstrousforhumanbigotry。ButwhentheybecomesohorriblethatevenChristChurchshrinks，thatevenOrielstandsaghast，theruleisevadedbymeansofafictitiouscontract。Oneimaginaryobligationissetupagainstanother。Mr。GladstonefirstpreachestoGovernmentsthedutyofundertakinganenterprisejustasrationalastheCrusades，andthendispensesthemfromitonthegroundofatreatywhichisjustasauthenticasthedonationofConstantinetoPopeSylvester。Hissystemresemblesnothingsomuchasaforgedbondwithaforgedreleaseindorsedonthebackofit。
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