Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-07
GLADSTONE TO INGERsOLL.
The Great Ststesman Discusses The Fam
Gus Atheisrs Pagan scresds.

Gus Atheists Pagan scresds.
In the May number Of the North
American Review, published to- dsy, W.
E. Gladstone defends the CHRISTIAN faith
against Colonel Robert G. IngersoIl's at;
tacks. The ex-Premier describes himself
az listening from acfoss the broad Atlantic
to the clash of arms in the combat be-
tween Colonel IpgersoN and DR.. Field
He pleads guilty to not having 1.-THE per-
sonal knowledge which assisted those
doughty champions in making reciprocal
acknowledgment IS broad as could be
desired, with reference to personal
character and. motive. Such scknewl-
edgements are Of high value in keeping the
issue clear, II not always OF all ADVENT
tious, yet of sll venomous matter. Des-
titute OF the experience on which to
found them as original testimonies" he
says, "still, in attempting partially to
criticise the remarkable reply Of Colonel
Ingersoll, 1 car accept in good faith whas
has been saidsby DR.. Field, and add that
1t seems to me consonant with the strain
of the pages that have before me. Hkv-
ing said this l shall allow myself the
utmost freedom in remarks which will be
addressed exclusively to the matter, not
the man.
~ do not remember ever to have read a
composition, in which the merely local
coloring of particular, and even very lin
tied sections of Christianity was more
systematically used as IL it had been
available and legitimate argument agalnst
the whole than in the reply before us.
Colonel Ingersoll writes with rare ana
euviable brilisncy, but also with an I'M
petus which he seems unable to control.
Denunciation, sarcasm and 1nvecsiVe
msy be said to constitute the staple
OF his work. and, if argument or some
favorable admission here and there peep
out for moment, the writer soon leaves
the dry and barren heights for the fsvorite
and more luxurious gslloping grounds
beneath. The paper, noteworthy
as 1t is, leaves on my mind the Impression
of battle field where every man strikes
at every man, and all is noise, hurry ana
confusion. Better surely had 1t been,
and worthier OF the great weight ana
elevation of the subject, If the con-
troversy had been wsged after the pat
tern of those engagements where
chosen champion on either Size, in
spsce carefully limited and reserved,
expectant host. The promiscuous crowds
represent all the lower elements which
enter into human conflicts; the chosen
champions snd the orier Of their pro-
ceediug signifying the dominion OF rea-
son over force, and its Just place es the
sovereign srbiter of the great questions
thst involve the main destiny OF man. I"
"I do not deny that person who
deems given religion 10 be wicked may
be led onward by logical consistency to
lnpusn in strong terms the character OF
the author and object of that religion.
But he is surely bound by the laws OF
social morslity and decency to consider
well the terms and the manner OF his in
dictment. Are not such methods
Of proceeding more suited to placards st
an election than to disquisitions on
these most solemn subjects? =
81 venture on remsrking that the doc
trine of evolution has acquired both
praise and dispraise which 1t does not
deserve. 1t is lauded in the skeptical
csmp because it is supposed to get rid OF
the shocking idea Of what are termed sud-
den acts of creation; and 1t is as unjustly
disprsised on the opposing aide, because
1t is thought to bridge over the gap be.
tween man and the inferior animals, and
to give emphasis to the relationship De-
tween them.
GAS in ordinary conduct, so In con-
sldering the basis of belief, we are bound
to look st the evidence as whole. We
have no right to demand deHonstretive
proofs, or the removal of all conflicting
elements, either in the one sphere OK in
the other. What guides us sufficiently in
matters OF common practice has the very
same authority to guide Us in all matters
of speculation; more properly, perhaps,
to be called the prsctice OF the soul.
"The reasoning faculty is, therefore,
wholly extrinsic to our moral nature, and
no influence is or can be received or Inn
parted between them. 1t Is not
difficult to see that while the reply aims
at uplifting human nature, 1t in reality
plunges us Up. 475) into the abyss OF
degradation by the destruction OF moral
freedom, responsibility aad unity. We
are Justly told that reason Is the
supreme and final test
Let us try this by test case. A
| father who has believed his SON to have
J been through life upright, suddenly finds