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the worst parts of our national character on the occasion of the Sepoy
insurrection。 The ravings of fanatics or charlatans from the pulpit
may be unworthy of notice； but the heads of the Evangelical party have
announced as their principle for the government of Hindoos and
Mahometans； that no schools be supported by public money in which
the Bible is not taught； and by necessary consequence that no public
employment be given to any but real or pretended Christians。 An
Under…Secretary of State； in a speech delivered to his constituents on
the 12th of November； 1857； is reported to have said： 〃Toleration of
their faith〃 （the faith of a hundred millions of British subjects）；
〃the superstition which they called religion； by the British
Government； had had the effect of retarding the ascendancy of the
British name； and preventing the salutary growth of Christianity。。。。
Toleration was the great corner…stone of the religious liberties of
of this country； but do not let them abuse that precious word
toleration。 As he understood it； it meant the complete liberty to
all； freedom of worship； among Christians； who worshipped upon the
same foundation。 It meant toleration of all sects and denominations of
Christians who believed in the one mediation。〃 I desire to call
attention to the fact； that a man who has been deemed fit to fill a
high office in the government of this country under a liberal
ministry； maintains the doctrine that all who do not believe in the
divinity of Christ are beyond the pale of toleration。 Who； after
this imbecile display； can indulge the illusion that religious
persecution has passed away； never to return？
For a long time past； the chief mischief of the legal penalties is
that they strengthen the social stigma。 It is that stigma which is
really effective； and so effective is it； that the profession of
opinions which are under the ban of society is much less common in
England than is； in many other countries； the avowal of those which
incur risk of judicial punishment。 In respect to all persons but those
whose pecuniary circumstances make them independent of the good will
of other people； opinion； on this subject； is as efficacious as law；
men might as well be imprisoned； as excluded from the means of earning
their bread。 Those whose bread is already secured； and who desire no
favours from men in power； or from bodies of men； or from the
public； have nothing to fear from the open avowal of any opinions； but
to be ill…thought of and ill…spoken of； and this it ought not to
require a very heroic mould to enable them to bear。 There is no room
for any appeal ad misericordiam in behalf of such persons。 But
though we do not now inflict so much evil on those who think
differently from us as it was formerly our custom to do； it may be
that we do ourselves as much evil as ever by our treatment of them。
Socrates was put to death； but the Socratic philosophy rose like the
sun in heaven； and spread its illumination over the whole intellectual
firmament。 Christians were cast to the lions； but the Christian church
grew up a stately and spreading tree； overtopping the older and less
vigorous growths； and stifling them by its shade。 Our merely social
intolerance kills no one； roots out no opinions； but induces men to
disguise them； or to abstain from any active effort for their
diffusion。 With us； heretical opinions do not perceptibly gain； or
even lose； ground in each decade or generation； they never blaze out
far and wide； but continue to smoulder in the narrow circles of
thinking and studious persons among whom they originate； without
ever lighting up the general affairs of mankind with either a true
or a deceptive light。
And thus is kept up a state of things very satisfactory to some
minds； because； without the unpleasant process of fining or
imprisoning anybody； it maintains all prevailing opinions outwardly
undisturbed； while it does not absolutely interdict the exercise of
reason by dissentients afflicted with the malady of thought。 A
convenient plan for having peace in the intellectual world； and
keeping all things going on therein very much as they do already。
But the price paid for this sort of intellectual pacification is the
sacrifice of the entire moral courage of the human mind。 A state of
things in which a large portion of the most active and inquiring
intellects find it advisable to keep the general principles and
grounds of their convictions within their own breasts； and attempt； in
what they address to the public； to fit as much as they can of their
own conclusions to premises which they have internally renounced；
cannot send forth the open； fearless characters； and logical；
consistent intellects who once adorned the thinking world。 The sort of
men who can be looked for under it； are either mere conformers to
commonplace； or time…servers for truth； whose arguments on all great
subjects are meant for their hearers； and are not those which have
convinced themselves。 Those who avoid this alternative； do so by
narrowing their thoughts and interests to things which can be spoken
of without venturing within the region of principles； that is； to
small practical matters； which would come right of themselves； if
but the minds of mankind were strengthened and enlarged； and which
will never be made effectually right until then： while that which
would strengthen and enlarge men's minds； free and daring
speculation on the highest subjects； is abandoned。
Those in whose eyes this reticence on the part of heretics is no
evil should consider； in the first place； that in consequence of it
there is never any fair and thorough discussion of heretical opinions；
and that such of them as could not stand such a discussion； though
they may be prevented from spreading； do not disappear。 But it is
not the minds of heretics that are deteriorated most by the ban placed
on all inquiry which does not end in the orthodox conclusions。 The
greatest harm done is to those who are not heretics； and whose whole
mental development is cramped； and their reason cowed； by the fear
of heresy。 Who can compute what the world loses in the multitude of
promising intellects combined with timid characters； who dare not
follow out any bold； vigorous； independent train of thought； lest it
should land them in something which would admit of being considered
irreligious or immoral？ Among them we may occasionally see some man of
deep conscientiousness； and subtle and refined understanding； who
spends a life in sophisticating with an intellect which he cannot
silence； and exhausts the resources of ingenuity in attempting to
reconcile the promptings of his conscience and reason with
orthodoxy； which yet he does not； perhaps； to the end succeed in
doing。