04.06.2018 Views

The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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For a long time <strong>the</strong> Visigoths remained true to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Arian faith, to which <strong>the</strong>y had been converted<br />

from hea<strong>the</strong>nism. For years <strong>the</strong>y maintained a<br />

sturdy and uncompromising warfare against <strong>the</strong><br />

princes and prelates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Roman Catholic<br />

Church, who left untried no strategy <strong>of</strong> war, or<br />

seductions <strong>of</strong> peace, to accomplish <strong>the</strong>ir conversion<br />

and submission to <strong>the</strong> see <strong>of</strong> Rome.<br />

Had <strong>the</strong> Visigoths persevered in <strong>the</strong>ir stand,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y might have become <strong>the</strong> liberators, instead <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> oppressors, <strong>of</strong> mankind. Both natural traits and<br />

religious tenets had admirably fitted <strong>the</strong>m for this<br />

position. But <strong>the</strong> nation <strong>of</strong> Visigoths, like many a<br />

man, allowed <strong>the</strong> golden opportunity to pass by;<br />

and <strong>the</strong> opportunity came but once. Neglecting to<br />

accept <strong>the</strong> high and l<strong>of</strong>ty station <strong>of</strong>fered <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong>y<br />

became instruments <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Roman Catholic<br />

Church. <strong>The</strong>re is an ancient adage that a good slave<br />

always makes a good tyrant, and this has proved<br />

itself only too true in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spanish<br />

nation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> bait <strong>of</strong> luxury, ease, and power held out by<br />

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