Page:Free Opinions, Freely Expressed on Certain Phases of Modern Social Life and Conduct.djvu/78

 of England" be so valuable to the Roman Church? Merely because of England's incalculable wealth and power!

Again, concerning the Declaration Oath, the Cardinal continued:—"Now, should it ever happen that the King became convinced, by God's grace, of the truth of the doctrines that he abjured, of what value would be the Declaration? Absolutely none!"

Of course not!—he would simply cease to be King, and would enjoy the complete liberty of the subject.

"By all means," went on his Eminence, warming with his theme, "let the majority, if it please, stand by the law, which exists apart from the Declaration, declaring that to reign over England the Sovereign must be a Protestant. Retain this law and enforce it; but respect our creed, at least just so far as to ignore it, and to leave us alone. This, surely, is not a heavy demand to make upon the spirit of modern toleration."

Then why did not the Cardinal and all his followers "respect the creed" established in this country,—the religion of the State,—"just so far as to ignore it," and to leave those who honour it "alone"? "This, surely, is not a heavy demand to make upon the spirit of modern toleration." It was not the Church of England which started any discussion on the Coronation Oath at the time of King Edward the Seventh's crowning,—the quarrel emanated entirely from the Roman Catholic side. And the Cardinal's speech was intended to be more aggressive than pacifying.

"But if," he continued, "after all, there must