New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-27
OPTIMISM.


tt ne Editor q The T. Tribune
SIR: President HoPKSs in discourse lately delivered
at the Pilgrim Church in Brooklyn undertook to prove
that His world i, very good world II look at the pur
pose for which designed That purpose he assumes
TO be Probation.
II would have been more satisfactory 10 have had some
proof on the point In one may admit this life to
be probationary, viz that destiny is here fixed for
eternity But does II necessarily follow that our lot here
after t. be measured by conduct here under GER
tain discipline intended rlour trial in the that
parent may permit his children to undergo exposure to
vice I'm order 20 strengthen yirtuous resolution. Some
proof at least might be requisite show that in
condition fitted for fair trial. if that be the object Of life.
In other words that there is equally fair chance Of do
ing right wrong and not an inevitable tendency TO the
latter.
sessed Of sufficient knowledge for direction and suf
fcent enjoyment 10 make life desirable but not so much
~ to make il object of idoatry that ind BY the
tine have arrived at middle age that have attained
oh that life give and that there is nothing to look
for here.
could not but think while looking at the comfortable
outward condition of the Rev genemanhis robust frame
that seemed proof against the in6rmites that fall to the
share of many his position a scholar and minister
the head of literary institution Of considerable repute
and TleolOgian of acknowledged ability What differ
eut sort Of world this must appear TO him from what It
does others less favored sndhog apt are - gusge
estimate Of things around US by what Individually pos
sess.
All his illustrations were derived from the condition Of
the favored class Of men, civil freedom, the unob
ruCted pursuit Of business domestic enjoyment Christian
association and freedom of conscience these all
sumed but in what country except do all these
actually exist
One would suppose that argument having relation 10
tie whole human was hardly sustained BY 50 limited
basis Of proof Yet the learned President is celebrated for
logical acumen Perhaps that quality consists not much
in sound discrimination OF elementary truth acuteness in
doducing conclusions from admitted premises
A. 10 the premises here assigned, have not known
much sclfaccommodafion. except in single instance,
which hope viii not Doe thought too maaaae in the hand
ling of so sacred subject as the present Some years
ago in Viii. State Convention the choiceot President Of
the Convention being under discussion delegate OF the
of Larger who attracted notice by reason
Of his name but has since exhibited more substantial merit
than having attic prenomen said that there
tain gcueral piAcpe which he would lay down as proper
direct the choice La the st place the presiding
officer ought be a welltried Wing 3D. he ought {, be
from the interior Of the State 3d. he should be from Oaelda
County 4tb Gen Lyman ought % be the man.
But press this critical argument too far, and adj
uniting that the whole world well of the citizens
of New lork still is not allowance 10 be made for the indi
gent and ignorant population which have around Us
How many there this metropolis Of the most pros
Gus nation Of the whole earth that are suffering pryaOn
Of the common physical comforts of iel Ho~ many
whose minds wholly Opaque and unenighened by the
genial ht of ledge the sOiening influence Of the
Christian religion
How can the lie be said to b4 a moral probation to this
suffering class Of the community lseems % that this
kind OF speculative reasoning that leaves wholly out Of
view that larger part Of mankind that called forth,
than sny other Sayiors conmiser ton when hs
earth hardly instruct in the esctus perform
Of our duties toward them.
may remind Of the complacency Of Le Batfre ln
Quentin Durward) who being Informed by his nephew,
just arrived from Scotland tn the Court II Louis H. OF the
death Of bis SISTER Quentin lnother said Well that Is
strange; she FIVE years younger than aud have
never had headache" SO, when told Of the death Il
bis brother inaw and slaughter Of bis IA niy Well who
would have thought il for he lie Baafre had
siderable service and never been once sl-d
Your Otedient servant, ID GLOSSOCRAPHUS.