ABSTRACT
The spirit of Christian persecution seems to hare gained ground rather than decrease as, the rotaries of the Christian faith becomes less numerous. Mrs. Carlile although far advanced in a state of pregnancy, must yet be dragged into a Court, (we will not say of Justice, least we should be considered by our readers as libellers) to shew cause why a rule should hot be granted, to file a criminal information against her, at the investigation of the self-constituted Society for the Suppression of Vice! And for what? Why, for publishing a fair and accurate report of the proceedings against her husband, under the very appropriate title of the “Mock Trial.” That trial was indeed a mockery, but yet it was the duty of a publisher to give it fully and fairly to the public, or suppress it altogether! A partial statement would are been injurious to Mr. Carlile, and he was therefore bound by the regard, which is inherent in every man, for the impeachability of his character, to publish it complete in all its parts. When we say “impeachability” we mean to be understood) that although his conduct has been, impeached by a set of fanatic bigots, yet in the estimation of toe great majority of his fellow countrymen, it is pure and unsullied as the brightest constellation in the expansive vault of Heaven. That constellation, without losing one spark of its native brilliancy, may be obscured by a passing cloud, and thus the character of this meritorious and praise worthy individual is still untarnished, although the fanatic stupidity of others, has drawn a veil over the greatness of his virtue.A most dangerous precedent is about to be established by the Twelve Judges of England, which however we hope 178may be defeated. These learned gentlemen, or lords if they wish it, have given it as their unanimous opinion, that trials in as open Court Should not always be made public, or at least; that in many instances, a great part should be kept back from the knowledge of the public. Cases have been cited in support of ibis doctrine, where evidence has been so indelicate, as to be unfit for publication. This may all be very true, but those cases should be left to the discretion of the Editors, who will find it their interest not to stain the columns of their papers with obscenity; and, if such a rule be once established, nothing m the shape of a trial, however true, can be hereafter published, if it be in any way offensive to the Court of St. James’s, or to any ministerial dependent’s dependent. Mrs. Carlile will, we hope, persevere in the publication of the Mock Trial, for if that is surrendered in passive obsequiousness to the Society for the Suppression of Vice, these gentlemen, who are members of it, will (priding themselves on their success) attack every work that is in print, except the Bible and Testament; nay, we doubt not if there w ere only these two most Holy and most miraculous miracles of books in the whole universe, the two would quarrel, and this very Society would, attack the as virulently as they have ever done the Age of Reason; and finally; the four books of the New Testament would be split asunder, and for want of something to do, for their principle motive in those prosecutions is not to be thought idle, and of no consequence, they would first attack one in the name of the other three, and so on till, their word of God was bandied through every Court in the kingdom alternately, as truth and falsehood. It is a most mischievous Society, and should be put a stop to by some means or other. The members of it are neither remarkable for virtue or honesty: they caw only be considered as a Society? of busy-bodies, who are ever interfering with what does, not concern them.The principles of Paine are daily gaining ground: those of, the Christian, though supported by persecution, as daily, losing it. We cannot tell as yet what the punishment of Mr. Carlile may be, but we doubt not, that it will be, dictated by Christian spirit, and therefore will he heavy. He however, will carry with him to his perhaps solitary prison, the heartfelt consolation of paving done his duty. If every heart in England courageously stood forward as he has done, how soon would fall the fabric of tyranny and corruption, religious and political, The hour, however, is not far distant; when this, great object of the People will fee attained, Church and State already begin to totter—one 179effort more, and they fall, or [[word not legible]] beneath the mighty pressure of Reason of Truth, and Liberty. When we say the State will fall, we must not be understood as being desirous of anarchy and confusion. No—we mean the present state of corruption, bribery, and murder, must ere long receive its death-blow, even though supported by, we believe, one hundred thousand bayonets.
