LTO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."]
Snt,—Apparently I have failed to express my meaning. That the wise are entitled to coerce the ignorant in matters of fact
is universally admitted. Otherwise we must clear out of India, Egypt, the Transvaal, and Ireland, to say nothing of opening the doors of our jails. That the wise are not en- titled to coerce the ignorant in matters of opinion is also admitted. You say that religious belief is matter of opinion, —i.e., of private judgment. I say that religious belief is matter of fact,—i.e., of faith in an infallible revelation. And that is the issue between us. Nevertheless, all that is lawful is not expedient. And whether• persecution ever advanced the true faith is matter of opinion. My own opinion inclines to the negative. Your contempt of logic in argument reminds me of the contempt our military authorities entertain for [We cannot honestly say that our correspondent's explana- tion, in our opinion, makes his views as to toleration one whit more acceptable, or, as we should put it, one whit more Christian in the true sense.—En. Spectator.]
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