Page:History of Freedom.djvu/234


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.o .(., 190 ESSAYS ON LIBERTY

Ranke, that it favours revolution and regicide. Whilst the Belgian and Sardinian Liberals accuse the Church of being the enemy of constitutional freedom, the celebrated Protestant statesman, Stahl, taunts her with the reproach of being the sole support and pillar of the Belgian constitu- tion. Thus every error pronounces judgment on itself when it attempts to apply its rules to the standard of truth. Among Catholics the state of opinion on these ques- tions, \vhether it be considered the result of unavoidable circumstances, or a sign of ingenious accommodation, or a thing to be deplored, affords at least a glaring refutation of the idea that we are united, for good or for evil, in one common political system. The Church is vindicated by her defenders, according to their individual inclinations, from the opposite faults imputed to her; she is lauded, according to circumstances, for the most contradictory merits, and her authority is invoked in exclusive support of very various systems. O'Connell, Count de Mont- alembert, Father Ventura, proclaim her liberal, constitu- tional, not to say democratic, character; whilst such writers as Bonald and Father Taparelli associate her with the cause of absolute government. Others there are, too, \vho deny that the Church has a political tendency or preference of any kind; \\'ho assert that she is altogether independent of, and indifferent to, particular political institutions, and, while insensible to their influence, seeks to exercise no sort of influence over them. Each view may be plausibly defended, and the inexhaustible arsenal of history seems to provide impartially instances in cor- roboration of each. The last opinion can appeal to the example of the Apostles and the early Christians, for whom, in the heathen empire, the only part was uncon- ditional obedience. This is dwelt upon by the early apologists: "Oramus etiam pro imperatoribus, pro mini- stris eorum et potestatibus, pro statu saeculi, pro rerum quiete, pro mora finis."l It has the authority, too, of

1 Tertullian, Apologeticum, 39; see also 30, 32, II \Ve pray also for the emperors, for the ministers of their Government, for the State, for the peace of the world, for the delay of the last day, II