2
The second allegation is more important, as, if my fears are really groundless, and unsustained either by fact, or by reasonable deduction, then my interference has been mischievous, and is not even to be excused by any moderation or liberality displayed by me in the past.
The subject will be most effectively treated by its examination under three distinct heads of inquiry, which may be said to embody in their solution all that was said or implied in my pamphlet.
1st.—Has the attitude of the Roman Catholic Church towards Civil Society changed since Confederation; and has such change been signalized in Lower Canada by overt action?
2nd.—Has such change affected the general rights of Protestants, as citizens of Quebec; and especially, weakened their guarantees obtained at Confederation?
3rd.—Is the issue thus raised Political or Religious?
In dealing with subjects of such importance, I shall have to avail myself largely of the material supplied in the course of the controversy between Mr. Gladstone and his distinguished opponents, Cardinal Manning and Dr. Newman. My sole regret is that I cannot borrow, with equal ease, the lucid and cogent reasoning which distinguishes the writings of the eminent English statesman.
To prevent misapprehension, I desire to state most explicitly, in the words of Mr. Gladstone:
"I desire to eschew not only religious bigotry; but likewise theological controversy. Indeed with theology, except in its civil bearing,—with theology as such—I have here nothing whatever to do. But it is the peculiarity of Roman theology, that by thrusting itself into the temporal domain, it naturally, and even necessarily comes to be a frequent theme of political discussion."
