Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-13
CALIFORNIAN INTELLIGENCE ARsA1aNEp.

realize that without the aid OF the press
their efforts would be far less productive
than at present. The fault of the press, in
the eyes of these people, is that it is not
sufficiently sided. It seeks to discover
the truth, and to that end it gives circula-
ton to all kinds Of views. This, from the
orthodox standpoint. is very sad and de-
plorable, but it is pity that the orthodox
standpoint should be so narrow as to ex'
clude all appreciation of the help which
The promoters of religious speculation OBJ
tain from journalism. The seekers after
the causes OF Californian Indifference to the
gospel, however, have suggested many
other agencies besides the press. The gam
bling spirit, the demoralizing influence of
pioneer associations, the restlessness which
results from the severance of old habits
and relations, the lust OF wealth, and so
forth and SO on, were all in turn denounced
with pioas fervor. It was left to the Rev.
IT, W. Brier, however, to suggest that the
real reason of the alleged unsatisfactory
state of things is the general stupidity of
Californians. He is reported as having
said that the greatest obstacle to the
"progress of the gospel upon this coast at
"the present time ia the prevalence OF in
d" fidelity, especially of the heart and life,
"and not of the head Californians
"plume themselves upon the idea of their
superior intelligence over any other
country but there is less solid thinking
land more empty headedness in this State
Ethan in any other part of the Christian
"world. Many talk of Darwinism, and OF
"being disciples of his; but these same
$50. called disciples are utterly incapable
"of comprehending Darwin by any amount
"of study. Hence when they come in
"contact with vital religion it is swept
"away, as it is infdelity OF the heart, and
"not of the head, which they possess.
Now this is strong charge against Cali
fornians, and we suppose it must be true,
or venerable clergyman would not have
made it. 1t is certain satisfaction to
have the matter explained, for it has some-
times perplexed us in the past. And we
have no doubt that the Rev. Mr.. Brier's
explanation is perfectly lucid, only that be-
longing as we feel we do, to that wretched
class of Californians who never can
hope to master the mysteries of Darwin by
any amount OF study, We cannot perhaps
be expected to exhibit more intelligence in
expounding the virile utterances OF Brier.
The thing which our Californian stupid
ity boggles over is the doubtless subtle
distinction drawn between infidelity of the
heart and infidelity of the head. It seems
that people may have the latter, and still
retain some little intelligence; but that
the victims of the former are Of necessity
only one remove from imbecllity. We sup
pose Mr. Brier knew that no "infdelistic
Californian was capable of understanding
this mystery, and that therefore he did not
attempt to explain it. And we also sup
pose that Californians will have to accept
Mr.. Briefs condemnation, however much
they dislike it, because of course he must
know what he is talking about, and be.
cause moreover the stupidity of the aver
age Californian incapacitates him fer dis
cussing these deep questions.
Let us take to our bosoms in all meek.
ness and establishment the plain and even
severe declaration of the Rev. Mr.. Brier
that there is less solid thinking and more
"empty medicines in this State than any
"other partof the Christian world" We did
not know before that Californians "plumed
themselves upon the idea of their supe-
"rier intelligence" but of course they do,
or Mr.. Brier would not have said So 1t is
a very foolish thing for any body, and par
ticularly for Californian, to plume him.
self upon his superior intelligence, and
no doubt those who do go generally are
egregiously self deceived by their vanity.
And it must be exceedingly exasperating
to the wise and good preachers who come
among US, stored with the profound truths
of the Mosaic cosmogony, and trimming
over with the most interesting miracles and
things, to find that the baseless conceit of
our people is a intolerance to their divine
work, and that, above all, community
which does not possess brains enough to
indulge in Sc infdelity of the head should
have developed. as it were out of "pure
cussedness," an "infdelity of the heart"
which answers precisely the same purpose.
All this we say is very sad. And Cali
fOrnians who have fallen under the bane.
ful influence of cardiac infdelity ought
certainly to feel ashamed of themselves,
and to regret that they are not once more
even as their Eastern friends and ancient
connections, whose superior intelligence
is SO strikingly manifested by their refusal
to institute inquiries into anything, and
who emulate that model of wisdom, the
Limpet on the Rock, in their serene and
changeless adherence to established beliefs
and customs. But sad as the condition
of California is in this respect, our reverend
friends should reflect that the harder the
fight the more glorious the victory. Let
them then attack the &c infdelistic" hearts
of their headless fellow citizens, and pos
sibly they may yet win them to reali-
cation of the error of independent thought
and the sinfulness of reason. The State is
all missionary ground, and there is moth.
ing to prevent the prosecution of the work
THE PAY OF GARfIELD'5 MEDICAL
| ATTENDANTS.
Several conflicting statements have been
made as to the sums which are to be
charged by the physicians who attended
President Garfield during his last illness.
One of these statements represents DR..
Bliss as demanding the lions share for
himself, and giving quite small sums to
Drs. Agnew and Hamilton. The various