The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-09-24
Anarchy and AtheIER

measure 10 the atheistical idea. D-o.--,
gated by mon like Bob Inpersol1 ',l''
the consequent weakening OF C-br,..,.o .
influences upon the belief and sc,i,--
men. He loudly avowed the o-,-,
that Christian society, In giving s1,.-H .1l
| agemeDt to these attacks upon ~. g.
smental ideas Of religious belief conn.
to tbe'grest mass OF the America '-.uu
pie, has made itself IN q great - -
| responsible for the anarchist deveIo,,,--''
in this country.
In laying down 90 sweeping r-,---.
tion as this, the preacher pDdoDt.-,-'
I went to extremes OF statenaD,
preachers are very prone to do -
asserted what would be very dlHrrI, !.
/ prove. Anarchism in this count =
least in that form that has msas -.
outwardly .msnifest. is not a dsvsr,-
ment Of any condition existing here -
is not in fact indigenous at ali rtF
foreign importation, and the csusss ,,.,
have brought about its developms,, :
those countries from which rs bs..
unhappily obtained it, are social rs,b.-
than religious, { and have no rsIs,T.-
whatever to assaults OF Inger,oI "a
the sgDOstic orators upon MoSa. ana -
prophets. Probably Of the professas -
outspoken anarchists, not more than -.
in hundred has any knowledge vbs,
ever OF these apostles Of inhdelitv. o- :,
idea OF the doctrines they promulgats
The irIeligious characteristics NJ N.
foreign-born anarchist spring from An
altogether different root.
Still, the pTOpOsitionHOf thesCbirsy,
preacher, II we flake. It In . rDo5fsss
sense, is worth serious thought. Ain,
the PRONUNCIATION OF stheistic and anti
Christian doctrines has certainly m,
developed the anarchists. as ~ lr,v
them, yet it is worth while seriopslv q,
inquire to what extent the spresd OF sr,b
ideas, snd their pOpulsrizstiou by ,Brb
orators as IngersoII. may produce cor5,.
tioDs that VIII bring forth 8 cr1p NJ
native auarchism more dangerous than
the imported variety. The anarchist,
with their destructive social tbso-is,
are here and, as the worst weed, ana
poisonous plants found in this couDt-,
are foreign impOTtstiOns thai found bs-s
a fertile and Weil-adapted soil yhsr.l-
they grew all the more vigorously and
spread all the more rapidly, nav It not
be that in weakening the moral sense of
responsibility that comes from q b.li.f
in God and the moral sccOuDtshiIirv ~
all men to Him and His laws. the stss.
istic and sgnostie apostles are preparing
q fertile soil for the spread OF the mos
baleful social growth OF modern dmssf 2
All atheists are not anarchists. but !.
is not going too far to say that all snsr-
chists are atheists. The seven men IN
Chicago condemned to die for csrrvlns
their snsrchicsl theories into prsctice
one and al refuse any consultations q
religion, and avow that they have 10
religious belief whatever. They dor1-
believe in God. They do not believe
: that there is any law OF moral accounts.
bility, or that there is any responsibility
I
consequences Of the act They do n7.
conceive that there is any moral govern.
ment in the universe ; that shere Is any
! basis for moral actions; that there is
Law higher than self-interest. OF hist
there is any other motive than usH
selfish interest. They are typIcs. @
their class. AS they believe 90 do sl
the anarchists. They are atheists pure
and simple. The denial OF moral purpose
and moral responsibility is the starting
- point Of their vicious theories. II then
! is no divine law, why should there Be
any human lsw9 II there is DO rasp1n.
sibility to God, why should there De 70
mau II the beginning and end Of
human endeavor is human self-iursrest,
why should there be any restraint upon
human action II there is no God, DO
= moral government, no moral resplnsi-
bility, no life to come, there is no lsv,
no need Of law, no respect for law and
order, and society dissOives in chaos.
Suppose, then, that through the efforts
; Of the infidel and agnostic orators, sBd
the spread OF their doctrine among the
people, that faith in the mOsl govern
ment of God, and the moral responsible.
ity OF all human beings to that govern
ment should be lost, what then If The
idea shall come TO prevail generally that
there is no accountability to God, an %
God to whom human acts are 8Ccouuts.
bic, what basis will remain FOR social
order among men II this foundation
stone, upon which social order and The
social system OF Cbristendom rest Be
! removed, what viii! replace Il :
: The instinct Of self -preservs ir0. may
I. be answered. Society must maintain
itself, because the only alternative
would be chaos. But would This moti7;
be sufficient ? II selhshness transcend:
all law, and takes the place Of lsV
would not that very motive lead to th'
disruption Of society. because 70 would
appear TO the individual that society val
not worth preserving ? II The ides o
, moral government and moral responsi-
; bility be lost sight OF, is il not resson
/ able, If not y necessary, conclusion tha0
: law and order would disappear, societ'
4 crnmble into chaos, and the humsn rsI
relapse into the bsrbarism from Whic-
it has emerged