THE LIBRARY INQUISITION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1727, 7 June 1886, Page 2

THE LIBRARY INQUISITION.

fTO THE EDITOR DAILY STANDARD.) Sib, — I am surprised to see the oblors of the inquisition hoisted m our midst. I thought it had diei out liundreds^of years ago. But I find it ia still alive here m the shape of four persons sitting on their throne and dictating to the public of Pnlmerston as to what they are or not to read. I see- also the Borough Council has upheld the action of those inquisitor generals for prohibiting the Liberator and Rationalist being put on the table of the Public Library, because those papers are supposed to contain nothing but sedition and blasphemy. Such were the remarks made by Mr Ferguson. He also said the Liberator had been prohibited from passing through the Victorian postoffice. Such is not irue, and I think it a direct insult to the editor of that paper. The Liberator does not uphold bigotry, but it maintains c more lofty idea, that is the equality of men. It classes the common bushman on a par with any mayor, storekeeper, parson, or any other pretended swell; 'Is it not absurd to think that \ve vsnouldi, have to - tolerate such an imposition from a . few pious bigots. I am informed that only one man raised an objection to those papers being m the Beading Boom,' and he is one of the biggest " sky pilots" of Palnierston North. This proves the old story to be true : That no one would ever ob]ect|to*those papers that are not blinded by theology. However, the bigots have done a glaring wrong, but the ratepayers will have something to say about it. There are papers and books m the Library yet that contain religious doctrines, and I would advise the inquisitor generals to follow the example of their master, Jesus; > If a man steal your coat give him your shirt also. You kicked the Rationalist and Liberator out., so kick the Australasian out also, because it contains a bigoted sermon m almost every copy. Why do you make fish of one and flesh of the other ? If we are to have no religious docrine m the Library clear them all out ; but m my opinion they all ought to be there, and those who- do. not like the Liberator ox Rationalist can pass them by. AH I hope is that the people of Palmer-ton North will show the Library Committee that they are going to be ruled by nothing, .like the days of the Inquisition. Sucn ; ; a , rule will never do m the nineteWtli century .—I am, &c., j Thos. Bastin, ■ One of the denounced " bushinen." jL HEATHEN CHINEE SUGGES- : TION.