Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-05-05

believers 10 approve the cOuuuct OI Jepn'
than. II Is. therefore, very serious
question whether we are or not so obliged.
But this question the reply does not con.
descend either to argue, or even to state.
II jumps 10 an extreme conclusion with
out the decency Of an intermediate step.
Are not such methods Of proceeding more
suited To placards nj an election than TO
disquisitiOns on those most solemn sub
jects? Colonel Ingcrs0ll's scheme Of ar
gument seems to be In the lire Of glitter
Ing generalities. lie does not argue
~ '1usly from point TO point but he sets
at In masses, without the labor Of proof,
crowds OF imputati0ns, which may over
whelm an opponent like balls from q
mitraillcuse.
THE QUESTION or EVOLUTION
venture In remarking, adds the EXPIRE.
mier, that the doctrine Of evolution has
acquired both praise and dispraise which
u does not deserve. One strik-
ing effect Of the Darwinian theory Of de
scent Is that all Is done by steps, not by
strides, leaps or hounds all from pr0top.
lasm up 10 Shakespeare. and, again, NIL
from primal night and chaos up TO pro-
toplasm. Why and whereby does this
doctrine eliminate the idea Of crcaiion!-
Does the new philosophy teach that the
passage from pure reptile to bird Is achiev.
cd by a spring ESQ to speak, over chasm!
This implies and requires creation; but
that II reptile passes into bird, by thou
sand slight and but just discernable modi-
ficati0ns, each one Of these Is so small
that they are not entitled TO name so
lofty, and may be set down to any cause
or no cause, ms we please. To me Il APP
~. -.
the broadly outlined and large advances
OF sO.called MOsaicism are creation, but
the refined and stcalthy onward steps Of
Darwinism are only manufacture, and
regulate the question Of q cause into OBJ
security. insignificance or oblivion.
admit that great believers, who have
been also great masters Of wisdom and
knowledge. are not able to explain the in
equalities Of adjustment between the hu-
man beings and the conditions in which
they have been set down 10 work out
their destiny. The climax Of these ine-
qualities Is, perhaps, to be found in the fact
that whereas rational belief. viewed Mt
large, Pounds the providential government
Ofthe world upon the hypothesis Of tree
agency, there are so many cases In which
the overbearing mastery of circumstance
appears 10 reduce Il to extinction or par
ralysis.
Now, In one sense, without doubt, these
difficulties are matters for our legitimate
and necessary cognizance. II Is duty in
cumbcnt upon us respectively, according
to our mcans.and opportunities, TO decide
for ourselves, by the use of the faculty OF
reason given us, the great questions Of
natural and revealed religion. They are
to be decided according To the evidence.
and if we cannot trim the evidence into u
consistent whole. then according To the
balance Of the evidence. We are not en-.
titled, either for or against belief, Ia set
up In this province any rule Of investiga.
ton except such ss common sense teaches
us 10 use in the ordinary conduct of life.
THE WEIGHT or EVIDENCE.
As in ordinary conduct. So in consider.
ing the basis of belief. we are bound to
look 1T the evidence as u whole. We have
no right To demand demOnsirativc proofs.
or the removal Of all conflicting elements,
either IN the one sphere or the other
What guides us sufficiently in matters Of
common practice has the very same au.
thOriiy to guide MS in matters of specula-
ton. Does the general IcasOn Of the case
make il probable that finite being. with
- phttcs
devised and administered by IL being who
is infinite, would be able either to embrace
within his view or rightly to appreciate
all the motives and the aims that may have
been in the mind Of the divine dispOser:
II is not difficult To see that while the
reply aims nj uplifting human nature, il,
in reality. plunges us into the abyss oi
degradation by the destruction of moral
freedom. responsibility and unity. For we
are Justly told that "lseasOn is the supreme
and final test" Action may be merely in.
structive aud haf,itual. II passes over sd
soon rs 1t Is challenged into the other cat
egory. and finds basis for itself in some
form of opinion. But. says the reply, we
have no responsibility for our opinions
We cannot help forming them according
To the evidence as il presents itself to us
Observe, the doctrine cmb. aces every kind
Of opinion. lfa distinction lie taken he.
tween conclusions To which passion or
propensity or Imagination inclines us. and
conclusions 20 which these have nothing
to say. then the whole ground will he cut
away from under the feet Of the reply
and II will have TO build again ab initio
Let us try this by test case.
NUTS FOR INGERsOLL To CRACK.
A father who has believed his son Ia
have been through life upright, suddenly
finds that charges are made from various
quarters against his integrity. or a friend
greatly dependent for the work of his life
on the cooperation Of another friend. is
told that that comradc Is counterworking
and betraying him. | make no assump.
ton now as to the evidence Of the result,
hut ask which Of them could approach
Aha Ia vaat ;vastan x,.sfl,nVf f,ali,nu a haasra
to he able Ia. acquit: And what shall we
say of the desire to condemn? Would
Elizabeth have had no leaning towards
finding Mary Stuart implicated In con-
spiracy. Did English judges and jurics
approached with an unbiased mind the
trials for the POpish plot? Were the
opinions formed BY the English Parlia.
ment on the treaty Of Limerick formed
without the Intervention Of the will Did
Napoleon judge according To the evidence
when he acquitted himself on the matter
ofthe Due DEnghien Does the intellect
sit In solitary chamber! Calico in the
palace Of the Vatican, and pursue celestial
observation all untouched while the tur.
moil Of earthly business is raging every.
where around. According To the reply
II must he n mistake Ia suppose that there
Is anywhere in the world such thing Ms
bias. or prejudice. or possession.
To sum up. There are many passages
in these noteworthy papers which, taken
by themselves. are calculated to command
warm sympathy. Towards the close Of
his final or latest letter, the writer OK.
presses himself rs follows:
Neither in the interest of truth nor for
the benefit Of man is II necessary Ia assert
what we do not know. No cause Is great