The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-11-26
AMERICAN HOUSE

THE SECOND LECTURE of the Army and Ma
Wy Union course gave great satisfaction to the
large audience which gathered to listen to it,
Rev. DIR. Fairfield does not bring with him the
prestige which in the case of some popular ly-
ceum lectures serves to pass off hastily writ
ten and vapid discourse as something Of ex-
traordinary merit. But he brings with him
from the Yves. something of the. freshness, the
sparkle, not to say abandon, Of diction that be-
longs to the new and busy region from which
he comes. 1t needs only deficiency of cui-
ture to make him Western Boanerges of the
dumping forward" school. AS it is, his radi-
calism is only of that legitimate kind which
was admirably des cribed by Josh Billings,
when he said that eff man is right he can't
be too radical, and if he is wrong he can't be
too conservative"
In beginning his remarks he said that he
proposed "a discourse upon the doctrine of
roots;" not botanical, algebraic or etymologi-
cal, but political, philosophical and theological.
Nothing has been so much abused in this gen.
GRAFTON as radieahsm, simply because it is just
out of its minority, and has not become Isufi-
GENTLY understood to be appreciated. In dis
eussing the subject he should speak of the
claims of radicalism, of the errors of conserv-
atism and, lastly, of some of the mistakes and
| iollies of professed radicals. The most strik-
| ing and valuable suggestion, as it seems to u.s.
that he made in treating of the first topic, was
| the fact that genuine radicalism is eclectic 1t
~aua1Iy semoyed rom the twin errors of as
Stunning that whatever is, is right on the one
hand, or that whatever u.s. is wrong, on the
other. 1t aims simply at determining what is
| tr.1t ot,1 -,
new, and rejects nothing solely because it is
| old. Among the chief heresies which conserv-
atism cherishes are undue respect for thedead,
an inordinate desire for peace and attachment
| to creeds. He. would utterly discard the au-
| thority OF precedent as precedent and throw
away the trammels of authority which prove
such impediments.to the vigor and efficiency
| OF at least two of the learned professionalism
ology and law In this part of his lecture Dr.
Fairfelds sentiments might have seemed not
untinctured with latitudinarianism, if consd-
cred independently of the subsequent part of
his discourse. But while deploring the un-
wise and unphilosophic theories of conserva-
tism he expressed an equal Adherence for the
radicalism which makes an indscriminate on
slaught upon eUeyytlting, is obstinately blind to
| o"o "io"0o9 VI hc''Son, ihuulBes III lHtenper-
ance of language and action, and carries its
| scepticism so far as to reject even the authori-
| ty of Revelation.
The speaker was listened to with the closest
attention, and was frequently interrupted by
applause. He had every reason to be pleased
| with his audience, and his audience showed a
keen appreciation of him. fE
The excellent music furnished by the band
was an agreeable feature of the entertainment.
The next lecture in this successful course will
be by Gov. Chamberlain upon the subject of
| the Surrender of Lee"