The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-11-04

by them violations of known natural laws.
The savage knows of no such laws.
Therefore, his explanations must come
from another source, and they are the
most reasonable possible under the cir
cumstances.
There are really no believers in super
natural agents. Superstition is ignor-
ance, and ignorance that is to be pitied
rather than censured. 1t does not result
from the mere willful neglect to see the
truth of natural laws, but rather from
lack of extended observation, subsequent
reflection, and that broad generalization
which removes error, prejudice, and sus-
picion, and makes the mind liberal.
Whether the ghost theory of Herbert
Spencer is logical clear to the end he
reached with it, may we'll be doubted;
for it strikes at the root of some of the
most cherished of human beliefs, beliefs
which have withstood some powerful
tests and which if they survive the
crucial test of evolution will safely stand
any test. But when we consider the
luxuriance of the authors facts and the
forcible character of his reasoning we
would indeed be bold to attempt to deny
that much of tibet bugbear of superstition
took its origin in the manner indicated.
Yet, though we may not be able to con-
tradict we are not bound to believe.
When proposition is thrust before us
we are bound to examine the evidence
upon which it and onl contrary opinion
rest. If after such examination we find
that 1T has stronger claim to our belief
than our former cherished opinion, we
are morally obliged to embrace it and to
retain it until its falsity is established.
The two most serious errors we can fall
into are those of believing without
reason and suffering our views on great
questions to lie unquestionsd until the
mind has "grown to- them so as to
render it next to impossible to obhtesate
all traces of the most erroneous con-
illusions. Facts are constantly brought
forward to test principles, and if we wish
to know whereof we speak we must not
Dramatically seal up our views, but bring
them out to gain vigor or suffer decay in
the sunlight of reason. Let us then
apply this to the question at hand; let
US not be too hasty to denounce those
people who perform strange actions and
worship strange gods, who bow III IRA
tional awe before some petty tyrant, who
PROSTATE themselves at the feet of some
blind, unthinking, unfeeling image, who
believe in spirits that preside over each
form of nature and over each virtue and
passion of man. Their opinions were
inevitable and time has given them
sanctity and made the people con-
sentative. Time and the light that has
Illuminated our paths must be granted
to them before the narrow vista expands
into the broad landscape. 1t is not
enough that the truth be stated to them.
1t must be demonstrated too. Those
who would teach them must be patient
and liberal. While engaged in their
mission of reform they must exhale the
breath of liberality and be clothed in the
armor of liberation. Then the auathemas
eff offended priests and the violate con-
tradictions of passionate and irritated
enthusiasts will not infiict wound, will
not cause a ruffie on the placid face of
the temperate reformer whether he be a
laborer among the savages or among
those who call themselves civilized.
And when the truth of the great laws of
nature which in themselves are the ex-
pressons of the Divine Will is once per-
ceived, the bandage is torn from the
great eye of reason and the gaping mouth
of faith is closed forever. Bravery dis
places fear; confidence drives out distrust,
and narrowness broadens into liberality.
Progress chases conservatism, misery is
by happiness, and drudgery
gives way to ease The barren plains Of
ignorance are left forever; the new i'm
petus given to thought causes man to |
aspire to higher destiny, teaches him |
his true place in nature, enlighteus him |
IN his true relation to the Great Being |
Of which he possesses a spark embod ed |
in will that can choose his path, teach
him to avoid the thorny way, and enable
his spirit
To return to Him who captive led captivity,
Who robbed the grave of victory,
And took the sting from Death.