THE IRISH CENSORSHIP
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Mr. H. Strachey really understates the case when he says that the proposed Irish censorship is a " return to the Index Expurgatorius." Roman Catholics, in Ireland as elsewhere, are already subject to that Index, and are directed to read only those books on religion and morals which defend the point of view in which they have been brought up.
The proposed censorship takes the first step in giving such a limitation of knowledge the support of the police. I do not wish to use alarmist language ; but evil things grow up by degrees, and a succession of perhaps smaller steps than this might re-establish the methods of the Inquisition, such as they were in Spain as late as the time of the great artist who has left us so many drawings of its horrors—Goya. For the Inquisition, like the Index, still exists with unaltered claims, though it lacks in all countries at present the State support which would make it effective.—I am, Sir, &c., AREOPAGITICA.
Previous page
