New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-12
COMPETTTIVE INERRANCY

1t is q world OF uncertainties ana yeO, ahlu
all the shifting sands of creeds and platforms,
doctrines and beliefs, one or two things have
been counted on by the best thinkers as sub
stantial and sound One thing which they have
built up on as being beyond controversy, change
less and absolute, has been the inerrancy OF
1.-THE Evening Post" lnerrancy accompanied
by occasional outbursts of Omnscence. Not
aggressive and turbulent omniscience, but that
more impressive form OF it which valves argu-
ment and demonstration, and says simply, with
palms outward and nose in the air, "Thus saith
the Lord" For many years 1.-THE Times" IN
the minds of the best thinkers, was very close
competitor of 1.-THE Evening Post" in both de-
partments, omniscience and inerrancy. In the
matter of the tariff and of Civil Service reform
it is hardly necessary to say that what these
journals did not know was not worth knowing.
As between the two it seems to lis 1.-The
Evening POST has usually held over 1.-The
Tines; not very much, but in the proper
ton, say of about nine spot to The Times's"
eight In general, it may be said that they were
about neck and neck. They not only knew
every thing, but they knew good many things
in the same way, and good many that were
so. The manner OF "The Evening Post" how
ever, was always superior. 1t has certain
whitening style in controversy that in single
paragraph makes an adversary kick himself in
self-contempt and wish he had never been born.
And then the brevity with which it puts away
contradicton-why, it's sort of thing against
which affidayits and physical demonstration count
for less than nothing.
And yet, here Is a state of things, arisen within
the last few days, that actually seems to lend
countenance to the theory that "The Evening
Post, is not inerla ant Indeed, that journal it
self has in one instance as good as admitted it.
Not only that, but its great rival in inerrancy,
1.-The Times" has corrected the errancy and
administered the rebuke. On Monday 1.-The
Evening Post in one of its Scathing editorial
paragraphs, held up to the scorn and contempt
of the civilized world the provision in the Con-
tract-Labor law which made it impossible to Sc
cure professors from abroad for our institutions
of learning. The next day its competitor in
inerrancy, with certain playfulness of manner
under which it disguised its deadly purpose,
pointed out that the law as it stands makes
special exceptions of the cases noted by 1.-The
Evening Post" 1t did not, of course, say i'll
so many words that its contemporary and COM
petitor had erred but humorously suggested that
THE Evening POst' had repealed the section
referred to without giving reasonable notice,
and that it ought not to do so. Which was
very considerable in 1.-THE Times as recognizing
its contemporaries inerrancy. But then what
happened? Why, the same day 1.-THE Evening
POST itself admitted that so far from having
repealed the section, it was not aware of its
existence until its attention was called TO it.
This almost amounts to throwing up the sponge.
If THE Evening POST is foolish and Grant, in
the name of goodness what's to become Of the
best thinkers?
Not only that but the very next day "The
Times" doubtless encouraged by its rivals con-
fesson, boldly asserted that the latter had owned
up to another errancy in the matter OF the water
supply and the Quaker Dam project. 1t an
nounces, with temerity that makes one SILVER,
" the conversion of The Evening Post to the
faith long held and preached by The Times"
Think of it, The conversion of 1.-THE
Evening POST How can an inerrant and
omniscient authority be converted" to any
thing? The very statement implies errancy
and falibility. We fear The Times" is carry
ing it too far. "The Evening Post" has, to be
sure, gone somewhat to pieces on its own con-
fession of errancy in single particular, but that
is quite different from being converted" We
fear The Times" has opened controversy in
which something besides Quaker Dams will ap-
pear