Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-22
THE TRUE PROSPERITY OF
THE STATE
Dependent Oh the Systems of
Metaphysics and of Moral Phi
lOsOphy that Predominant in 1t
--MOulders and Teachers of
Public Thought Should Have
Correct Psychological and
Moral PRINCIPLES.

Moral Principles.
Correspondence OF the Register.
In the following paper ! desire TO
elaborate at some length the following
thoughts:
|. The moral philosophy OF people,
and consequently their practical moral
ity, is moulded very largely by the pre-
vailing metaphysics or psychology Of
their time.
>. 1t is necessary for the true health
and prosperity OF the State that cor
rect system OF moral philosophy prevail
in it and be accepted by the great mass
of its active and thoughtful citizens.
And hence
3. 1t is all important that those who
mould and guide the politics OF the
State should have q correct system OF
metaphysics and psychology.
! am here arguing on the purely
Utilitarian principle.s If the best
interests of the State would be secured
If the greatest happiness would be Sc
cured to the greatest number, then
the moulders and guiders OF political
thought and action must themselves
have and must teach the people Il cor
rect metaphysics or psychology.
The first OF these propositions Is prac-
tically denied by many: and strange to
say, among these by some who oi all
others We should most naturally expect
would not only accept ii, but would
earnestly press to haveit taught and in
culcated. For instance, there are many
VINO profess and call themselves Chris
tians who can see no connection be-
tween psychology and morality or re-
ligion, and who think that the teachers
oi the latter have nothing whatever to
do with any questions OF the former.
Hence among acertain class it Is almost
~ much as a Clergyman's position and
ecclesiastical head are worth for him Ia
deal at all in anything savoring of
psychological discussions. The sources
OF our knowledge the depth and extent
of our knowledge Experimentation to re-
hut the Mill explanation OF "thc rclativ-
ity of our knowledge" ar To show the
unphilosophic character of Spcncer's
theory of "the unknowable; these
and such themes must need be touched
upon in our pulpitS. because, forSooth,
they are metaphysical, and it will not
be at all surprising ii you will hear
raised against those who would honest
IL and earnestly labor Ia set their aye
correct on these and kindred great sub
jeCts, the cry of mot preaching the Cos
pei" And they will 20 on repeating
this cry though the while false meta-
physics may be sapping the foundation
oi the Christian faith, corrupting the
morals of the age and sweeping on and
down our young men into the depths Of
speculative and practical Atheism.
Such people forget. ii they ever knew.
that there is in the Gospel, and neCcS-
sarily growing out of it, The very deepest
metaphysics; and that the character
oi the times may be such a. that preach
ing a sound metaphysics is the onl Y true
way OF preaching pure gospel. SCUM
doubtedly many times fclt Il. Paul.
Never did any one "a deeper into pSy-
Geological questions than did he. Nor
did ever any preach and defend more
real metaphysics. - did he ignally
when he wrcstled with and threw the
gigantic Greek wisdom" on Mars
Hill. And 81 did st. John in his bat
ties with GnosticiSm. So did Athana-
sius, and Augustine, and Auselm, and
all the great doctors who have repro
duced themselves in the succeeding
ages; and so have since done and are
still doing Berkeley, a Mansei,
Calderwood, a McCosh. and others of
like power and fame And in no age
can pulpit he n ike one and discharge
fully its high duties to its aye without
expounding and insisting upon a cor
rect and may call it the Divine Meta
physics, II may not, nor perhaps can
il legitimately, d. constantly re-
sounding with technical philo-
sophie terms: vet il must see
toit that among the conflicting psvchol-
ogies of its day, that which is founded
upon the Divine mind and method
be clearly expounded and persistently
pressed.
There is ever close, il not direct,
casual connection between the prevail
ing psychology and the prevailing moral
philosophy Of an age; and bad psy-
chology is the sure antecedent of bad
moral philosophy. The experential
psychology-or the doctrine that all our
is derived from experience
of which J. S. Mill has been the chief
in these later days, viii gen
crate the doctrine that all our ideas of
right and wrong also are derived from
and that back of and indie
s,enflent al fhis there in not only no