The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-05
MAJORITY AND REMNANT.
Appearance of Matthew Arnold Last
Night at Plymouth Church.
His Lecture Upon the UnsOund Majority and
the Saving Remnant-SeIectiOn from
Some of Mr.. ArnOld'S Writings


Church, last night was an honor both to Matthew
Arnold and to indianapolis. 1t was as large in
numbers as that which greeted the distinguished
Englishman in Chicago, and was certainly of the
saving remnant if there be such a thing in this
city. Mr.. Arnold and Rev. Myron w. Reed came
upon the platform at about a quarter past
o'clock, and in a few moments Mr. Reed stepped
forward and said:
Ladies' and Gentlemen-I am glad to see the
remnant present tonight-for suppose may sa-
lutte you as such-and l am glad that it is so
large. Not all of us can visit what Nathaniel
Hawthorne calls our old home; but if we re-
main quiet and behave ourselves the best of the
sons of the old home come over and visit US
Charles Kingsley, in his ktime; RDean Stanley,
Herbert Spencer and Matthew Arnold 1t is
not poor week for indianapolis when Matthew
Arnold comes to us one day and on the next
Henry Irving.
Il have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Ar
mold
After being introduced, Mr.. Arnold in grace
full words spoke of America and Americans,
and then began the discussion of mis- subject,
with the observation that DIR. johnson had said
that patriotism was the last refuge of the scoun-
drel This he thought was a cynical saying but
it had something of truth in it. Yet there was
an honorable patriotism which men should seek
TO nave on thelr SIDE. he dlQ not Wish to be
considered as fattering the patriotism of his
country or undertaking the patriotism of Amer
lea His thoughts in contemplating America
were of a kind to crafty Americans rather than
offend. Mr.. Bright had habit of extolling the
numerical strength of America in population
and territory. He could not agree with him.
although it was an important ground for salts
faction. Numbers were not good. They were
frequently unsound. 1t was a better thought
that the body of the people, with all their faults
oil +har how 4lo;,
affairs managed by a so-called superior class.
There was a biblical saying however,
that might be applicable that many
were called and but few chosen. Plato had de
picted state of society in which there was
small remnant of honest followers of wisdom,
while the great mass was unsound With such
picture democratic Athens appeared gloomy
enough. Under the ministry of Eubelus, who
possessed many of the characteristics of the
politician, conversation became more and more
superficial and frivolous; the habits of society
became laxer and laxer all of the pernicious
germs in Athenss democracy became fully de-.
veloped. Yet Eubelus was man of business
and exceedingly skillful in matters of fnesse.
Athens ceased to be an Independent state at the
close of his administration, however Plato was
right. He spoke of the very small remnant"
that honestly sought wisdom, but the remnant"
was not strong enough to save Athens. The
word remnant was the word of the prophet
Isaiah though thy people be as the sand of the
sea, only a remnant of them shall return" The
great majority in democratic Athens as in the
kingdom of Judea were unsound and so both
were doomed. Isaiah right, as Plato was
right, though the former, unlike the latter saw
leader and remnant that should
follow Yet Isaiah expected his prophecy
to be realized too soon and Plato placed
his visionary republic in the clouds. The scale
of things in Judea and Athens was too small
To change state as well as preserve it there
should be considerable body of workers-the
numbers were too scanty for the remnant" to
be able to save and perpetuate the state, to
transform and preserve it. The numbers were
greater to-day, and it did seem that the rem
nant" might increase and be an actual power
Plato and the prophets were one in upholding
for mems study whatsoever things that were
pure, celestial just and pure and amiable and of
good report. If one should derive comfort from
the doctrine of the 'remant" he should also hold
fast to the memorable fatality governing in poll
tics that states failed in justice and amiability
The remnant of righteousness did not enter into
the minds of the politicians of to-day
What saving power was there2 "Our institu-
tons" said the American; 1.-THE British consti-
tuition" said the Englishman; "Our civilizing
mission" said the Frenchman. The only saving
power was the loving of righteousness and the
delight in the law eternal. The New Tesla
ment told how righteousness was composed. Be
fore Mr.. Bradlaugh on the other side and the
Freethinkers on this side banished the New
Testament it would be well to take text from
it. Whatsoever things are true whatsoever
things are elevating, whatsoever things are just
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are amiable, whatsoever things are of good ro-
port if there be any virtue in them let your
thoughts run on these" This was what Plato
meant, but these were the things that did not
come into our heads when we thought of politics;
yet these were the things that saved states;
righteousness and not iniquity was the true
basis upon which politics should rest we should
be capable of holding whatever is true in poll
tics and have in mind truth, justice, purity
amiability and whatsoever things were of good
report
There were positive evidences, the speaker
said, of the unsoundness of the majority and the
soundness Of the remnant The grave topic of
the relations of England with Ireland was an
evidence of this. He did not propose to attack
either. Whatever he had to say against his
countrymen he would say at home. He would
not reproach either, but would show how right
the prophets and philosophers were.
Mr. Arnold went on at some length to discuss
the present relations of England and Ireland
as declarative of the proposition that whatever
things are just and whatever things are amiable
are more important to be corrected than the
mere surface remedies of politicians. He said:
After conquest and combination there had
been cupidity, oppression and ill-usage; this was
the case also, elsewhere. failure in justice re-
suited in danger tn the state. The English con
fscations in Ireland and the laws against Catho-
licism things of the past. England thought
they were pfeUUy well feureSSeu ana tnOuSnJ UnaJ
Ireland ought to think so, too. Politicians built
up land acts to consolidate the two countries and
were surprised if they were not consolidated.
How mnch more wise were the prophets and
philosophers than the politicians. Politicians
never thought of the New Testament text con
corning purity, truth, things of good report etc
Their designs were baffied by what they consid-
cred an memorable fatality. If there was not
failure in justice then the failure in amiabity
did not amount to much. People in England
said that Ireland ought to be got over and the
union be as perfect as that between England and
Scotland; but it could not be done by the politi-
clan. Everything depended upon the remnant
the workers and the power Of action.
After discussion Of the history of France
and the present causes that give that country it's
strongly marked personality, the speaker consid-
Atlantic