The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-29
GLADSTONE REPLIES TO INGERsoLI.
The Great Statesman Discusses the Famous
Atheists Pagan Screeds.

New York, April 28-In the Nay number OF
the North American Review, published to-day.
w. E. Gladstone defends the Christian faith
against Col. Robert G.. Ingersolls attacks Tbs
ex-Premier describes himself as listening from
across the broad Atlantic to the clash OF arms in
the combat between Colonel Ingersoll and DIR.
Field. He pleads guilty to not having
sthe personal knowledge which as.
sisted those doughty champions in making
reciprocal Acknowledgements. as broad could
be desired, with reference to personal character
and motive. Such Acknowledgements are of high
value in keeping the issue clear, If not always
of all adventurous, yet of all venomous matter.
Destitute of the experience on which TO found
them as original testimonies" he says ''still in
attempting partially TO criticize the remarkable
reply of Colonel Ingersol, / cannot accent III
good faith what has been said by DIR. Field and
add thatit seems TO me consonant with tho
strain OF the pages have before me. Having
said this, i shall allow myself the utmost free-
dom in remarks. which will be addressed
clusively to the matter. not the man.
81 do not remember ever to have read COM
position in.which the merely local coloring OF
particular, and even very limited sections OF
Christianity was more systematically used as if
it had been available and legitimate argument
against the whole than in the reply before
Colonel Ingersoll writes with rare and enviablg
brilliancy but also with an impetus which h6
seems unable to control Denunciation, sarcasm
and invective may be said to constitute the
staple of his work; and, If argument or some
favorable admission here andthere peep out for
a moment. the writer soon leaves the dry and
barren heights for his fsvorite and more luxuris
galioping grounds beneath. The
paper, noteworthy 1t is, leaves on my
mind the impression of a battle field
where every man strikes at everv man, and all
is noise, hurry and confusion Better. surely,
had iu been, and worthier Of the great weight
and elevation of the subject If the controversy
had been waged after the pattern OF those ens
gagements where chosen champion on eitheR
- nR1xlix 1tsyntf nA maA mwaA
does battle on behalf of each silent and expects
nat host. The promiscuous crowds represents
all the lower elements which enter into human
conflicts; the chosen champions and the order OF
their proceeding signify the dominion OF reason
over force, and its just place as the sovereign
arbiter of the great questions that involve the
''I Go not deny that person who deems O
given religion to be wicked may be led onward
by logical consistency to impugn in strong termg
the character OF the authcr and object of that
religion. But he is surely bound by the laws OF
social morality and decency to consider well the
terms and the manner of his indictment -
Are not such methods of proceeding more suited
TO placards at election than to disQuisitions ON
these most solemn subJectsl
Il venture on remarking that the doctrine OF
evolution has acquired both praise and dis
praise which it does net deserve. 1t is lauded
in the skeptical camp because it is supposed to
get rid of the shocking idea OF what ara termed
sudden acts of creation; and it is as unjustly
dispraised on the opposing side, because it is
thought to bridge over the gap been man and
the inferior animals, and TO give emphasis to tina
relationship between them
"As in ordinary conduct so in considering
the basis Of belief. are bound to look at the
evidence as a whole. We have right to de-
mand demopstrative proofs, or the removal OF
all conflicting elements. either in the one sphere
or in the other What guides us sufficiently in
matters of common practice has the very sama
authority to guide us in matters of speculation;
more properly. perhaps, to be called the practice
1.-THE reasoning faculty is therefore, wholly
extrinsic to our moral nature. and no influence
is can be received or impaired between them.
II is not difficult to that while the
Reply aims at uplifting human nature, it in
sisy panees ~ US sb p o into the ABYSS OK
dom, responsibility and unity. For are
justly told that reason is the supreme and final
A father who has believed his to have
been through life upright, suddenly finds
that charges are made from various quarters
against his integrity. Or friend, greatly de-
pendent for the work of his life on the coopera-
tion of another friend, Ia told that that comrade
is counterworkiug and betraying him. / make
no assumption now as to she evidence OF the re-
suit, but ask which of them could approach
che investigation without feeling desire 20 be
able to acquit2 And what shall we say Of the
desire to eondemnf According TO the
is any where in the world such thing bias,
or prejudice. or prepossession; they are words
without meaning in regard to our Judgments,
FOR, even II they could raise clamor from with
ont the intellect sits within, in atmosphere
Of serenity. and, like Justice. is deaf aud blind
~ well calm.
.sIn addition to all other faults, T hold that
this philosophy, or phantasm OF philosophy, 10
arninently retrogressive With COM
plication, iatrospection has largely extended,
and believe that, observation extends its
held, so far from isciating the intelligence and
making it autocratic tends more and more to
enhance and multiply the infinitely subtle. as
palpable modes, in which the inter-
action of the human faculties is carried op.
Who among as has not had occasion to observe,
IN the course of his experience, how 'stgely the
Intellectual power of O ma1 is af by the
demands of life on bis moral powers, and how
they open and grow, dry up and dwindIe,
.srding to the manner in which those demands
are met"
ToE.n Tnf~