The New York herald., 1869-12-16
A METAPHYSICAL FOG.
ssrhe Scicnti nc Solution OF the Govcrnme' =
tai Question: Before the New York
Liberal Club.

''The Scientific Solution OF the Govcrnme' =
tai Question: Before the New York
Liberal Club.
Tine ninth meeting OF this club was held last Tight
N the rooms OF the club In Third avenue. There
was large attendance OF members. The piper for
the evening was read by Mr.. stephen Pear andrews
aud the subject was 1.-The Sclenunc Sclu don OF the
Governmental Question"
Mr.. Andrews did not read paper but delivered
an address which was very much overburdened
with technical metaphysical phraseoloay that very
much lnterfcred with the understanding OF q very
abstract question: difficult to understand, even when
discussed in commonplace language. Pedanrry,
and not the necessities OF metaphysical intellect
seemed TO be the constraining motive OF the lee
turer in the selection oi this style Of address, for in
cdentay Mr.. Andrews condescended TO speak the
language OF ordinary mortals and to verify the
automatic adage that he who sees his own ideas
clearly can make them clear to others.
The lecturer said that for thirty years he had
studied 'Unlversaology," ana the results OF that
line OF thought he should shortly publish IN the form
OF volume. There were but three principles OF all
things IN The universe and those three things were
specifically, the numbers One TWO and three, or,
IN otner words uni-lsn dualsnl, triunisnl. Con-
siderable tune was spent In the definition
OF these three words; but the result was that the
lecturer meant to convey the idea Of unity In
ness, and then duality, and afterwards Kind OF
trinity. lie then castgated the English language
because 1t was not large enough 10 contain these
IDEAS ana compllmented the German because 1t was
capable.
He illustrated the two antthetical principles,
convergent and divergent, which III reference TO
government, meant. he said, centrailzation and de-
centrazatlon Though he might offend his demo-
cratic friends By stating IT, the ideal OF government
was to his mind that OF "a head cenLre," an auto
cracy, disposition by the people towards an lndl-
vidua lead. WDen that order Of things came To De
recognlzea by our leading liberals, and the evl OF
the overshadowlng influence OF one mind was
avoided, the party who adopted TINS line would be
The strongest party on the planet.
In Illustration of this, If Brigham Young were to
come TO New York, Notwithstanding he was believed
TO be unpopular, he would, by the force OF his ln-
dlvlduality, command the entire press OF New York
without The OF a single dollar TO himself. Why
was this not the case with thinkers generally, and
the New Ork Liberal Club in partcularS Because
tney mad no rallying point and, strange to reaLe.
everybody was SO pure minded that they had no per-
sonal ends or designs to accomplish, as Brigham
Young would be likely TO have when he visited New
YORK. Mr.. Andrews did not enlighten the cub as 10
whether the visit OF Brigham Young was for the pur
city, nor whether he had heralded his approach
by card in the Tribune. Al Mr. Andrews
delivers himself again on TINS subject tonight
the Old fashioned people who believe in being chaste
husbands to one wife. He complained OF science
because 1t never asserted the sovereignty OF the
individual, and Informed the democracy Of the city
tna thoagh 1t was moving in the right directlon 1t
had not yet even dreant of the possibilities OF the
dvldua political freedom 1t might yet attain TO- Mr..
Andrews did not state what effect such an announce
ment might have upon the Iammany rings, but pro-
that enables them TO dwell SO long and undsputediy
in city halls.
In religion the lecturer thought that we had
reached lhe climax or political and intellectual
freedom an assertion that Is not likely 10 be con-
tradcted IN view Of the recent fantastic tricks
played before high Heaven by certain great religious
lights 1t was o very sad mistake Tor COM
munlty to bow to pubic opinion, and we had
bowed down to that uOl in way that robbed us Of
all individuality. Reormers were next attacked,
because they protested too much ana lost their
balance. lC was great blunder to suppose that
truth was simple. IL was not so; II was very COM
plex ana was kind OF dualty.
COmta stood as the beacon Of this age: but he was
severely castlgated, because, although he was
philosopher, with the reputation OF world, he did
not take the trouble 10 define his ideas while the
lecturer did Mr.. Andrews was not aware OF
single philosopher who TOOK the trouble to state the
way IN which he was going to his words. The
lecturer concluded with per2ration as 70 the bepe-
tits OF unlversaogy III placing the great dvergencies
OF human Thought into great complex unity.
A discussion followed, IN which Mr. Moran and
Mr. Wakeman successfully endeavored TO obtain
few grams OF wheat from this chan OF phllosophic
thought and yerbiage.