That we are this year celebrating the bicentenary of Voltaire’s birth should remind us of how far our age has advanced from his, and also of how much we owe to our predecessors7. The spread of democracy and the advance of science which distinguish our time both owe very-much to the brilliant iconoclasts8 of the last century, of whom Voltaire was the chief. In judging the work of the laughing sage9 of France we must remember that in his day the feudal10 laws still obtained in France, and a man might be clapped in prison for life without any trial. The poor were held to be born into the world for the service of the rich, and it was their duty to be subject to their masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Justice was as easily bought as jewels. The Church was omnipotent11 and freethought a crime. If Voltaire’s influence is no longer what it was, it is because he has altered that. We can no longer keenly feel the evils against which he contended. His work is, however, by no means fully12 accomplished13. While any remnant of superstition14, intolerance, and oppression remains15, his unremitting warfare16 against l'infame should be an inspiration to all who are fighting for the liberation and progress of humanity.
Nov. 1894. J. M. WHEELER.

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1
entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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2
liberator
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解放者 | |
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3
pretension
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n.要求;自命,自称;自负 | |
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4
compilation
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n.编译,编辑 | |
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esteem
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n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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6
sketch
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n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述 | |
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7
predecessors
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n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 );前辈;(被取代的)原有事物;前身 | |
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8
iconoclasts
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n.攻击传统观念的人( iconoclast的名词复数 );反对崇拜圣像者 | |
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9
sage
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n.圣人,哲人;adj.贤明的,明智的 | |
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10
feudal
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adj.封建的,封地的,领地的 | |
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11
omnipotent
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adj.全能的,万能的 | |
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12
fully
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adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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13
accomplished
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adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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14
superstition
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n.迷信,迷信行为 | |
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15
remains
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n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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16
warfare
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n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突 | |
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