Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-10-02
From the New York Independ
RadlcalIsm.
BY REV. SAMUEL 7. SPEAR, DID.

What is Radicalism? Etamologically
considered, it simply means to lay the AK al
the root of the tree; and this means to 90
down to the bottom of things, and keep go
ing down till we strike what may be prop
erly designated as the hard-pan of funda
mental truth. This is what John the Bap
fist did, what Jesus did, what the Apostles
: did, what Luther did, and what all agency
that corrects error and removes evil mus
always do.
The specific design of the radical spirit il
to find the truth and then set it forth in
contrast with and contradstinction from
the error or vice which it is the province
Of that truth to expose and rebuke
Though sometimes rash, impetuous, impa-
tient intolerant, and dictatorial it neverthe.
less seeks to realize one Of the grandest
theroies that ever inspired the breast OF
humanity.
Considered in relation to the actual state
Of the world--its facts, its condition, it's
wants, its duties and its destiny-the spirit
of radcalism is the bone and sinew, the life
and impulse, Of all real progress alike in
| church and state Since the fall of Adam
this world has never been just right; it is
not so now; and there is no prospect that
| it will be for some time to come Human
nature wants improvement. Society wants
| it. Hence the practical question ia this
Shall we leave things as they are simply
because they are; or shall we attempt to
make them better, roofing out the error and
| the wrong, and introducing the truth and
the right? The fact that things are is no
proof that they ought to be. Calico, con-
trary to the prevalent notions of the age
saw that the earth moved round the sun,
and not the sun round the earth. By per-
fectly radical investigation of the facts, be
caught this truth; and, although it subvert-
ed the cycles and epicycles Of the old the
DRY, although the Pope took the alarm and
tried to keep him still, Calico held fast to
his conviction, and, so far as he could, made
it known to others. He was an astronomi-
cal radical-the man of progress; and as
such the world now delights to honor him.
Those who would exercise the Galileos in
science morals, and religion are practically
the enemies Of all progress. They may not
always intend this; yet this is the legiti-
mate effect of their theory
What are the facts of history in respect
to the radical spirit in its bearing upon the
intellectual, social, political moral, and
department of science and art, who are the
men that have contributed most largely to
the advancement of knowledge? Certainly
not those who have trodden the beaten
track Ct their fathers, governed in all things
by the precedents of opinion, and content
to retail old ideas; but rather the bold, the
fearless, the original, the radical investiga-
tors of truth. Lord Bacon, in laying down
81. 81 sol, 81
govern all investigation, and thereby ex-
posing the follies practiced by the school
men Of the Dark Ages; Sir Isaac Newton,
in that profound and patient inquest after
truth by which he at length discovered the
great law that gives regularity and harmony
to the motion of the heavenly bodies; DR..
Franklin, in catching, the Gghtnings of
heaven with a key, and resolving their phe-
nomena into an electrical agency-these,
and men Of like stamp, were intellectual
radicalists, going to the bottom of things
advancing beyond the ideas which had
preceded them, and cutting for themselves
and the world new channels in the great
domain of thought Such men refuse to
bow to the authority Of mere presidents
Assuming that ideas must at last rule the
world, they not only drive the plowshare of
truth into the errors of the past, but also
greatly enlarge the kingdom of human
ideas. True. they are not infallible; yet to
this class Of men the world is greatly in
debted for its scientific progress. But for
their life and mental activity the intelloc-
tual status of earth would be stationary,
perhaps retrogressive.
To the same style of agency we trace all
the reformatory movements which have
blessed the world. A reform supposes an
evil existing in human society, intrenched
in some fundamental error of thought, or
fortified by some vicious feeling, or-what
is generally the fact-supported by both Of
these causes in combination. Now, in the
very nature of things, q reformer must at
tack this evil; he must make an exhibition
of its nature; he must try it by some stand
ard Of truth he must appeal to the con-
sciences of men; and, in doing this, he must
of necessity lay the ak at the root Of the tree.
He proposes a fundamental change in the
notions and practice of men; and this can
be gained only by truth as fundamental as
the change itself The truth must be as
deep as the error-deep enough, at least, to
90 to the bottom of the error. ALI reform |
atory movements spring from the radical
spirit. Who are the men that have resisted
the ASSUMPTIONS of despotic power; curtailed |
the prerogatives of kingcraft; made the |
moparchies of Europe far more liberal and
just than they were century ago; con-
tended for the doctrine Of popular rights |
sympathized with the suffering, the OPP /
pressed, and the down-trodden Of our /
species; contributed to the emancipation |
and dignity Of labor; enlarged the right Of
suffrage; pleaded most earnestly for the cd /
ucation and elevation Of the masses poured /
forth their blood like water upon the affairs /
Of freedom? Yes who are the men that /
have done these things? The plain and /
honest voice of history tells us that these
achievements are mainly due to those men
who have acted on the principle OF laying
the axe at the root of the tree, and then
cutting down every tree that did not bring
forth good fruit. Sometimes called Round
Heads, sometimes Puritans, sometimes dis
sometimes agitators, sometimes
radicals, sometimes fanatics sometimes one
thing, and sometimes another; they have,
nevertheless, been the most prominent act
ors in promoting the advancement Of hui
manity, correcting its abuses, and in all
respects improving the moral, social, politi-
cal, and religious condition Of our world.
For a rule, radicalists are genuinely ear
nest and honest men, having strong convic-
tons and deep feelings, not indeed always
right in their ideas or wise in their meas
uses. vet men of vast power, men whose
absence from Garth would make a chasm
which nothing else could Eli. They have
done too much for the good Of the world
% be branded with opprobrious epithets.-
lhey belong 20 the class whom despots
profess TO despise, yet always fear. They {
arS. INC men WHO have gospel; and they
'eheFe IL and preach it. Their brains are
lot TOO narroB TO comprehend and apply