“Mormonism has for years destroyed in a great measure the personal liberty of the citizens of this part of your country, where it flourishes,” remarked Mr. Austin, “and certainly there is neither civil nor religious liberty enjoyed within the walls of the monasteries and convents scattered over the whole length and breadth of your land.”
“That is true, only too true!” sighed the captain, “but, as regards monastic and conventual institutions, as true of your country as of mine.
“Who can tell what suffering—what martyrdoms, may be endured by the hapless inmates of those prisons for innocent victims?
“Some will say they should not be interfered with, because the shutting up of men and women in that way is part of the Romish religion, and that the victims go into their confinement voluntarily; but it is certain that some do not do so voluntarily, and that others are wheedled in by false representations of the life to be led there.
“When they learn by experience what it really is, they often abhor it and long for the restoration of their freedom, but, alas, find themselves in the hands of jailors, fastened in by bolts and bars, and so forced to remain, no matter how unwillingly they are detained. Where for them is the liberty guaranteed by our Constitution to every citizen, from the highest to the lowest?”
“It is a great wrong, both here and in Great Britain,” Mr. Austin said. “One occasionally escapes, and thrills the public mind for a time by her tale of the horrors of her prison, but they—her tormentors—assert that she is insane, her tale the fabrication of an unsound mind—and presently it is all forgotten by the fickle populace; drowned in thoughts of other matters.
“But what remedy would you propose? the abolition of monasteries and convents?”
“No; that would savor of interference with their religious liberty; but I would have them obliged to open their doors to the visits and inspection of the police at any and all times, without previous warning; and the fact made certain that every grown person in the establishment was left entirely free to come and go at his or her pleasure. While that liberty is not secured to them, it cannot be said with truth that they are free citizens of a free country.”
CHAPTER XIX.
The little party gathered on the porch again after tea, and amused themselves with conversation while waiting till the setting of the sun, and the fading away of the twilight should give a better opportunity for the display of the fireworks.