It also referred to the policy of the _Freethinker_, and to another subject of the gravest interest--namely, the threats of prosecution which had appeared in several Christian journals.

As "pieces of justification," to use a French phrase, I quote these two passages: "Our ill-wishers (what journal has none ?) have been of two kinds.
In the first place, the Christians, disgusted with our "blasphemy," predicted a speedy failure.

The wish was father to the thought.
These latter-day prophets were just as false as their predecessors.
Now that they witness our indisputable success, they shake their heads, look at us askance, mutter something like curses, and pray the Lord to turn us from our evil ways.

One or two bigots, more than ordinarily foolish, have threatened to suppress us with the strong arm of the law.

We defy them to do their worst.