Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-11
GLADSTONE TO IN6ERs0kI.


In the May number Of the North
American Review, published to-day, W..
E. Gladstone defends the Christian faith
against Colonel Robert 6. Ingersoll's at
tscks. The ex-PremieT describes himself
ss listening from ACROSS the broad atlantic
to the clash of arms in the combat be-
tween Colonel Ingersoll and iDr. Field.
He pleads guilty to not having ".he per-
sonal knowledge which assisted those
doughty champions in making reciproca'
acknowledgements as broad as could be
desired, with reference to personal
character and motive. Such aekuowl-
edgements are of high value 10 keeping the
issue clear, il not always OF ell ADVENT
tious, yet of all 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
Ineersoll, can accept in goodfsith WHAT
has been saidlby DR.. Field, and add that
1t seems to me consonaDt with the strain
of the pages that have before me. Hsv-
ing said this I shall allow myself the
utmost freedom in remarks which Will be
addressed exclusively to tie matter, not
the man.
"I do not remember ever to have read 8
composition, in which the merely local
coloring of particular, and eyenNvery linn
tied sections of Christianity was more
Systematically used as IL it had been
available ana legitimate argument against
the whole than in the reply before us.
Colonel Ingersou writes with rare and
enviable brillisncy, but also with an i'm
petus which he seems unable to control,
Denunciatiop, SARCASM and invective
may be said to constitute the staple
OF his work; and, il argument or come
favorable admission here and there peep
out for moment, the writer soon leaves
the dry and barren heights for the favorite
and more luxurious galloping grounds
beneath. The paper, noteworthy
as it is, leaves on my mind the impression
of battle field where every man strikes
at every MAD, and ell Is noise, hurry and
confusion. Better surely had it been,
and worthier OF the grest weight anu
elevation Of the subject If the con-
troversy had been wsged sitter the pat
tern of those engagements where 3
chosen champion on either side, in q
space carefully limited and reserved,
does battle On behalf of each silent and
expectant host. The promiscuoGs crowds
represent all the lower elements which
enter into human conflicts; the chosen
champions and the orIer Of their pro-
ceeding signifying the dominion of rea-
son over force, and its just place as The
sovereign arbiser of the great g uestiops
that involve the main destiny Of man. =" =
81 do not deny that person who
deems gwen religion 10 be wicked may
be led onward by logica. consistency to
impuen in strong terms the character Of
the author 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 in-
iictment. Are not such Gethods
/ # proceeding more suited to placsrds ST
4 q election than to disquisitions on
Il tese most solemn subjscts7
al venture on remsrking that the doc.
.ri ne Of evolution has acquired both
pr ,ise and dispraise which IL does not
les 'erve. Il is lsuded in the skeptical
IAN Up because 1t is supposed to get rid OF
he shocking idea Of what are termed sud
len sets of creation and 1t is es uni Justly
1spl aised on the opposing side, because
tit5 bought to bridge over the gap be-
.ween man and the inferior animals, and
10 give emphasis TO the relationship De-
.weeu them.
"A.s In ordinary conduct, so In con-
udeuni the basis OF belief, we are bound
10 Look, at the evidence ;ss q whole. We
lave 20 right to demand denonstratiVe
,roofax the removal Of all conflicting
elements, either in the one sphere or In
he other. What guides lls sufficiently IL
matters Of common practi ce has the very
anne authority to guide usi in all matters
" speculate on; more pro-, srly, perhaps,
o be called the practice of ne soul. -
"tTae reasoning faculty il, therefore,
Wholly eXtrinHic to our nora nature, and
10 influence is or csn be Iece lived or in
)artsd between them. 1t is not
Iifficult TO see that while eas reply aims
t uplifting human nature II in reslily
'lunges US 10. .475) into tie abyss OF
egradstiou by the destructto of moral
reedom, responsibility ana unity. We
re justly told that sreas on is the
upreme aud final test
.et US try this BY test case. A
sther who has believed his son to have
cen through life upright, sudde My finds
hat charges are made'from vsrio us guar
ers against his integrity. Or friend
realty dependent for the WORK of his lie
N the CO. operation Of smother fiji end, Is
old that that comrade is counter work
pg and betfsyirg him. 1 make o ss-
now ss to the evidence the
esult, but ask which Of them cou ID ap-
roach the investigation without fe cling
desire to be able 10 acc ,uii9
md what shall we say Of the desire to
ondemn2 According to the re-
ly, 1t must be mistake to suppose 81 at
here is any where i'm the world such q
hing IS bias, or prejudice, or proposes :
IN; they are words without meaning II |
egard to our judgments, for even il they
ould raise 9 clamor from without the il
ellect sits within, in an atmos-
here of serenity, and ike justice,
, deaf and blind as well es calm.
SIN addition to all other faults, hold
nat this philosophy, or phsntasm OF
philosophy, is eminently resrogressivs.
- With complication, introspsc-
ON has largely extended, and believe
nat, as observation extends It's field, SO
II from isolatiug the intelligence and
lsk.ng it autocratic tends more end more
, enhance and multiply the infinitely
ubtle, as vel, as the broader ana
lore pelpsble, modes In which the inter-
ction Of the human faculties is carried
q. Who among US has not had occasion
, observe in the course of his experIe nee,
Nv largely the iutellectusl powers OF
l. =