Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-04-22

to contend with in this controversy is
the careless use of words by those on
the other side.
For instance, here is Mr. O'Rourke
procing by Webster that eternity is
duration without end" and opining
therefrom that ''infnity" also sis dura-
ton without end Eternity, however,
refers primarily to duration: infnity
to space. The one, too, is specific !;
the other comprehensive, taking in
unbeginningness and endlessness as
well as boundlessness.
Some fallacious play is also made
with the arithmetical terms of
addition" and subtraction" Mr..
O'Rourke continues:
and, as we cannot tell how much to take
from intinity to make it finite nor by adj
dition increase intinity, so we cannot increase
nor diminish eternity-duration without
end-intinity. Therefore, time is not part
of eternity.
The notions of "adding to" and
ldhIuS dLo IlOl OlluudIC. hC
true term is "displacement''-a
counter-action more benignly en-
bodied in the Flaw of compensation
1t is mere change of place without
change of weight or quantity. We
subtract FROM and add to- the
atmosphere by respiration, but there
is no change of atmospheric weight or
quantity. So fish b,eathe without
diminishing or augmenting the water
of the globe. So in the processes of
evolution in all and through all it is
changeless change, without loss or gain
of matter. There is as much gold in
the world now as there ever was, but
its varieties of shape and use are prob
ably far greater than ever before.
Again:
Webster says that time is part of dura-
ton; eternity, duration without end or the
one the opposite ofthe other
The deduction is strained.
Modern science teaches that little
over one-fifth of the air is oxygen, a
little less than four-fifths nitrogen. but
it nowhere intimates that the one is
''the opposite of the other"
Oxygen is also on friendly terms
with hydrogen, combined with which
in the proportion of nearly nine to
over one, water IS produced.
There may be some Opposition"
between nitrogen and hydrogen, but
oxygen is evidently the bosom friend
of each. 1t is the time" of air and
the "eternity" of water, and vice uersa,
without Opposition of constituents,
or even of terms.
If a part of w. Va. is annexed to Maryland
the latter will be increased and W. Va. will
be diminished, but the territory of the United
States will not be augmented or lessened. So
we can add minutes to hours and seconds to
minutes, but this will not increase or diminish
eternity. for time is in eternity.
Correct What is West VAS loss
will be Maryland's gain. This be-
cause the transaction has taken place
within our own sphere of option or
action. Suppose, however, Great
Britain comes over and accomplishes
the job of again making Maryland a
British province +? How will the ter
ritory of the United States be affected
then?
Mr.. O'Rourke's proposition and the
JOURNALS pending question show that
the operations of addition" and Sub
traction must be performed by some
body outside and above the domain
of the objects to be affected. A man
in Jail cannot diminish the number of
articles in his cell, nor can we "the
pensioners of time and the prisoners of
hope" effect anything whatever by
counting for or against time or eter-
nifty the mere divisional denomina-
tons Of diurnal and annular move
ments.
When, therefore, it comes to taking
from or adding time to eternity, or in
any way computing incalculable
things, the operations must be per-
formed by somebody outside Of infnity,
which is unthinkable.
The truth is, therefore. our ability
to enumerate and combine seconds,
minutes, hours, etc, has nothing what
ever to do in support of Mr.. O'Rourke's
n
more proofs that time is limited dura-
ton than that the long dynasties of
ancient Egypt demonstrate the I'M
memorial right of kingly heredity to
rule forever by divine authority.
Referring to the measurableness of
time, a quality which has misled Mr..
O'Rourke into thinking it is thus
somehow essentially distinct from
eternity, Mr.. Crabb, the justly eminent
synonymist, quoting Mr.. Locke, speaks
of ''time as that mode of duration"
ETC., implying that there being but one
duration for all beings and things, the
earthly, human, mortal conception of
it is method of statement and not a
limitation.
Here is richness:
If the earth is part of space a pigeon in
the air is part of the atmosphere. as two
bodies cannot occupy the same space at the