, 1878-01-11
Rev. Jos. Cooks Argument.

Mr.. EDITOR:-PleaSe allow me n few
remarks in reference to the argument of
Mr., Cook, as published in the ARGUS OF
this date.
l. We do not KNOW Of any hdepend-
ent existenccs but Time. Space and Mat
ter; neither of which. or all combined,
constitute personality: though they
never had beginning and can never have
an end.
2. Personality necessarily implies a
beginning; which necessarily implies de-
pcndence,
3. Time. Space and Matter, are un-
source or origin-etcrnal
necessities; and no .personaity can over
come them, or exist independent OF them.
Therefore an independent personality is
an imposSibility in the nature Of things.
And If we admit the philosophical prop
Osition, that no effect can take place with.
out an adequate cause, we contradict the
doctrine OF free will. and are bound to ad.
NIT that whether one or many invisible
planners or designers persona ities--cx-
ist in the universe, they must, one ami all,
from the highest to the lowest, be- DE.
PENDENT; and under the inevitable and
eternal law of cause and effect.
This is the CHARITABLE view, which
sees the criminal as an unfortunate in.
heritor of a crine-bent organization. and
as the natural and appropriate result OF
mfavolable prenatal conditions; AZ op.
posed to the vindictive and vcngclu
view as seen under the false light OF free
will. which teaches that the criminal
could rs easily, under the same CirCum.
stances, have done well as the man ot a
good organization.
He speaks of conscience aS "deep hu.
man instinct; as lift is KNOWING tacul.
ty; when mental science plainly shows il
to be simply Il passion or emotion, re-,
sponsive ALONE to purely intellectual per.
ception; and prompts to act ion in accord
ance with the intellectual perception O
right. n.
Oak lIarbor, Dec. 2S 1877.
We give place to the above, not
from desire to draw out long
winded metaphysical discussion, be
cause we have neither the time,
space or theological training neces-
sary to such an undertaking. The au.
thor's wish to have his ideas made
public is gratifed. Our impression,
however, is that those ideas, i'm
bihed as they evidently are, from
Paine's "Age of Reason" Volney's
works, and other fallacious doctrines,
are badly mixed.
The proposition that Time, Space
and Matter are without beginning or
end, instead Of being logically es-
tablished truth, is bare assunI tion
that they are Independent e1istsncss,
UNCAUsED, and that no personality
can overcome or exist independent
of them, is in such gross violation OF
all the teachings and promptings of
intelligent Judgment and reason that
we decline any attempt to change
the opinions of one whose sober
judgment would lead him to occupy
such grounds. 1t would require a
reconstructed mental organization,
according to his doctrine, which
none but 4 Creator could give; and,
as he does not admit the existence
of Creator, such thing would be
That the doctrine of free will is
overthrown by that of cause and ef.
feet, is certainly y something new; as
if persons acts could not be caused
by the volition of his own free will.
Again, if conscience is "sinply a
passion or emotion, responsive alone
to intellectual perceptions, and
prompted To action in accordance
with the intellectual perception Of
right" what constitutes a deep hu.
man instinct!
Taking our correspondents
grounds, We have
!. An earth revolving through the
solar system in obedience to law
which could not possibly control it
because it is composed of matter and
is therefore az independent existence
,. 4 universe existing Of IT'S own
accord, acting With that unison and
harmony which could only result
from intelligent design. Intelligent
design implle, Intelligence. which
could only belong toa personality;
therefore the earth or the UNIVERSE
II you please. is on intelligent per.
But then its bodies are
composed Of matter; and, as matter
cannot constitute = personality, we
are brought face to face with 40 i'm
possibility.
3. We must not punish criminals,
because they cannot help what they
DO. They are under the "eteruAl
and inevitable law Of cause aud Fl.
feet" therefore they are not inteIh.
gent beings, but mere machines.
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