Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-09-03
TEACHE Frs co LII MN
CLAY WOOD, EDITOR.

1t appears Qultc usudl W attdCIl pref
ty names 70 every thing. Especially is
this the case with the term philoso-
ply. 1t is readily applied to anything
which has cause, real or imaginary.
Or to anything which has probable,
or even possible result. Recently
writer in the Teachers Column of the
COURIER, illustrated the so-called phil
osophy of history. The illustration
was aptly made; and it is not, here,
intended to find fault with, or criticise
what was therein said. But is some.
times slightly difficult in this and sim
liar cases, to determine how much
philosophy there is, or to ascertain
what as philosophy, and what is fact,
or rather, what is fact and what is
fiction.
May it not be probable that SO called
philosophical deductions from history
arc, to say the least, false philosophy
Results are sometimes said to be of the
same character of their causes. Col
umbus' first discovery of America is
sometimes regarded by many, as &C
cidental, because 1T was not a result of
his original design,--to find new
route to Asia. Further discoveries
followed, as results, yet it might not
be best to conclude that all were acct
dental, because the first may have been
SO. In this case, the philosophy, if
there be any philosophy in it, is .dark-
ly visible" and OF doubtful utility
Would it not be as well TO indulge
sparingly in philosophical speculation,
in connection with historical state
ments?
Spaniards overran, subjugated Mex
leo. The hapless condition of Mexi-
can Indians is well known;
but what relevancy has that
fact to the gradual conquest and
settlement of that part of North
America now known as the United
States? Has the one any logical or
philosophical dependence upon the
other? Has the settlement of Ply
mouth any dependent connection with
that of Jamestown? If not, where is
the philosophy? Texas was annexed
in 45, and one of the direct results was
war with Mexico. How many other
results, direct and indirect are connec.
ted Herewith it, is needless now to
consider. Possibly the chain of events
connected with that transaction, may
still not be complete, but the philoso-
ply is not very clearly discernible.-
Two boys may quarrel about the own
ership of nut found under tree
two dogs may fight over bone--or
two nations may engage in bitter,
vicious war for the possession of ter
ritory to which perhaps neither is lust
ly entitled, and in any of the supposed
cases there is cause and a result.
though no vast amount Of philosophy
is contained therein.
The contest between France and
England for the exclusive possession
of certain North American territory
is we'll known. Conflicting claims
was the cause. War between France
and England in which the colonies
suffered severely was one of the re-
suits ; but what is the philosophy? A
person may have a business house or
dwelling which is unsuitable to his
wants or convenience ; he therefore de-
molishes or removes the unsuitable
structure and crccts one more proper-
ly adapted to his business or comfort.
The want of a more commodious
building is clearly cause, and the
erection of one better fitted for his
purpose is clearly result of that want,
yet no one would dream of philosophy
in such case.
The articles of confederation, after
the revolutionary war had closed.
was found inadequate.
Here was want to be supplied. If
that want be regarded as q cause, its
first, its direct result was the calling of
convention to amend the articles of
confederation. That convention re-
garding the articles of confederation
as wholly unsuited to the absolute me-
cessities of the case, cast them aside
and framed the constitution which we
now have.
The constitution, then, is an indirect
result OF the insufficiency and insult
ableness of the articles of confedera-
ton.
But what is the philosophy connect
ed with this case? Isolated cases NAV
not be suited, properly for philosophi-
cal deductions. If SO, why not? liza
single cause with its result will not
admit philosophical deduction, will
one, two or twenty similar causes with
their results admit it? II there be no
philosophy in single link, is there
any in an entire chain of events p
More light on the philosophy of his
tory viii be gladly received.
A. B. G.