Torch of reason. (Silverton, Oregon) 1896-1903, May 25, 1899, Page 5, Image 5

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    THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, MAY 25, 1899.
reach of the “herd” is, in his why the minority shall not come in
estimation, "a paltry, common- for its share?
“ It’s the principle involved,’’
.!ace mediocre strutting around.
-welling
puffing as if he were hear our good friend and critic ob-
expected to bring order out of serve. But who has laid down
chaos and set the whole world this principle hut Christians them-
upon the road to perfection.” Has selves? Have we no right to fol­
anv one ever seen human nature low in their own footsteps if they
exhibited in a more hideous aspect deviate not from “the path of
than in this utterance? “ Dog in righteousness?” In the present
the manger,” through and through. state of public sentiment it is con­
Oh, ve shades of Darwin, Tyndall, sidered right and proper that
Huxley, were you not pestered with money should be appropriated for
this same kind of barking ere yet the maintenance of institutions of
learning and for the advancement
vour worth was recognized?
Conceited, indeed, when every of science, and no distinction is
made as to the belief of the indi-
sincere seeker after truth feels
humbled in the realization of the viduals asking an appropriation '
for such purposes. Is it for any of
truth of Prof. Aggasiz’grand words:
us Liberals to draw the line against ,
“The older I grow, the more I
ourselves and say: We shall be ex-
know that I know nothing.”
eluded? Would this not appear as
Bacteriologists tell us that the height of folly to Christians
micro-organisms manifest
by themselves? When public senti­
their movements the same con­ ment orders the line drawn against
ditions which characterize the us we must necessarily submit to
higher orders of life, and it seems it, but it is certainly not the'
that our friend and critic, who is province of a professed B reethought
never(?) “afflicted with a petulant organ to aid in bringing about such
spirit and disposed to berate people
a result.
who do not believe as he does” (no,
So long, then, as public senti-
neverl), has not vet evoluted out of ment declares in favor of making
this primordeal mental state. See­ appropriations for educational pur­
ing, furthermore, that no “brain” poses, so long has each individual
has ever yet been discovered in a right to “fall in line” with it.
these animalcules, and the analogy At the same time, he also has a
is complete. Any wonder that he perfect right, to oppose appropria­
exhibits such a repugnance to what
tions if he considers them wrong.
is so foreign to his nature?
I can illustrate the principle in- M f
Don’t talk to him about any volved no better than by referring
kind of university! He has no to Proudhon’s celebrated maxim
use for anything that is designed that “Property is robbery.” Thus,
to cultivate what he is so deficient while he strenuously advocated
in. What support can a Free- this principle all his lifetime, did
thought university expect from a he therefore yield his rights to pos-
man who is still governed bv the sees property? Did he ever at-
predilections contracted while he tempt to put this principle into
was a minister of the gospel? “The practice in his own individual case?
more universities abound, the less We know he did not, since he
use he has for them,” to paraphrase claimed the same property rights
his words.
the state gave to others. W hy did
Our good friend and critic is evi­ he not surrender his property
dently unable to see the difference rights if he believed that to own
between having appropriations by anything was robbery? Simply be­
the state made for good or for evil cause the people were not, and still
purposes; whether the funds are to are not, educated up to this prin­
he used for the propogation of ciple. He may seem inconsistent,
superstition or
the dissemina­ hut there is also a maxim that
tion of the Liberal sciences. Ad­ “ Necessity
knows no law.”
mitting that vour university would (W'hether right or not I will not,
be under the control of individuals, and need not, argue here.) Thus
what organization is not? Is the he was compelled by necessity, by
state itself not composed of indi­ the inexorable course of events, to
viduals? And have the projectors submit to the voice of the people,
of an institution not a prior right though he endeavored to educate
to its control? Can any one be them up to higher conceptions of
more interested in its efficiency social life. Herr Most wears eight-
than they themselves?
dollar patent leather shoes, yet, let
But, objects our good friend and the people once understand the
critic, the state legislature was principle of equality, and insist
asked to do for this university that no man sh 11 have any pre-
what you were not willing to have eminence over another, and I dare
do for Christian universities, say he will discard them instantly.
W hat difference does it make to Thus public sentiment forces us to
the majority whether the minority assume that that is right which we
ii willing or not? If the majority firmly believe to be wrong. If
decides that funds shall be appro- wrong has the sanction of the ma-
priated for the building up and joritv, the minority is expected to
support of universities, then tell submit to it, if not to endorse ¡L
me, in the name of common sense,
Concluded on 6th page.
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T H E O NLY S C H O O L
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A Splendid Corps of Teachers and Good Facil­
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Liberal
SILVERTON,