The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-09

Broomfield street, Boston, IS represent
tat;ve of an advanced class of independent
thinkers all over the country, who are
graphing fearlessly with the gravest relgi-
Gus, political and social questions. Tt i'm
cludes among its writers many OF the
highest and most profoundly cultivated
minds of America. 1t is no scoffer at the
simple faith Of ignorance and childhood.
Bold, earnest, reverend, before the mys-
steries which surround our lives, it would
honor God by using the reason that
he has bestowed in eomprehending His
works. Such writing as we find here is
like fresh breeze in the torrid noon-tide.
It stirs with healthful flow the stagnant
and lazy atmosphere which puts the SOULS
best powers asleep. We fall often into
sluggishness and cowardice, and need, now
and then, such bugle call as "the Radi-
cal'' to rouse us to the war upon the gi-
gantic wrongs and falsehoods of the
time. The leading. article in the April
number is by O. b. rockingham,
upon the "Religion of Humanity
The writer shows with great clearness
the essential freeness Of religion. How
all creeds and ceremonials cover common
faith whose essentials never vary, under
whatever form they may be clothed. The
author pleads eloquently for the practical
recognition of this principle, IN its broades
scope. He would extend to all nations 8
respectful Difference to their theological
statements. The Hebrews, with thcil
Old Testament, the Brahmins, with then
Veddas, the Chinese, with their Confucius
and all peoples with their sacred books
have the essentials of the Great Religion
"Love to God and love of man."
If we could make the Bibles OF the worlt
shake hands it would tend to make the ma
tons of the world drop their swords
Zelots could no longer justify their hateful
intolerance. Religious emotion, however
serious in complexion, is essentially TIN
same. The variety Of genius and tempera
ment in the different races instead of max
ing their spiritual sympathy impracticablc
make it rich and enchanting to the wise ant
good. The Religions are all brothers
| bearing different names and clothed in diff
r ferent garments. The water of life sparkle
! in all their vases and communion cups Q
every form and hue, clear as crystal, t
: refresh the believing soul.
An essay on Voltaire, by Chadwick
: shows well his greatness and his littleness
"His industry was enormous; his informa
: ton was vaster than any mans living hi
intellect sharper than any two-edse
sword his passion for knowledge and hi
i love of truth were glorious; his hatred c
cruelty and injustice, ardent and unwavel
e ing; great prophet of humanity to ma
e and beast. lie stood by the dignity of hu
e man reason. But Voltaire's personal lif
: was not wholly faultless or beautiful. II
q did not see that personal holiness is tn
key of the Good Time Coming He wa
:. so sharp that he was narrow. He lacko
n imagination and intellectual sympathy
!, Mans rights were more than his duties.-
i His self-respeet was not that spirit whic
u Wadsworth sings:
e who in the silent hour of the night
|, Can still suspect and still reoere himself
: In lowliness of heart"
"Timothy Tot" a prose story wit
g poetic passages, by Eldridge Gerry Fai
u field, a gifted writer of New York, pu
IL ports to be the struggles of literal
II genius, poor and in a great city. 1t
d exquisitely written, touches deep scum
T, ings of thought and will interest cultivate
10 readers.
/ The ''Radical" is indispensable to Il
q general student of current literature al
u to the liberal thinker.
q -