Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-24
SEARCHING FOR TRUTH.


 The Chicago University has been en- dowed by several very rich pen, among them MT. Rockefeller, President of the Standard oil Company. and other mil lionaires, who are largely interested in railroads. One of the professors, MT. Bemis, has in his lectures on sociology proposed many reforms more or less af- fecting railroads. Among other things he suggested the taking over by cities from the menopolies now holding them of certain civic duties, such as the sup ply of gas and water and even transpor- taticn. Such teachings occasioned stir among the magnate patrons of the uni- Versity. The manager of gas company said to Professor Bemis: If we can't con- vert you we are going to down you. We can't stand your writing; it means mil lions to us." A prominent railroad man said to him: That a man in your posi- ton should dare to come here and im- ply that the railroads cannot come into court with clean hands is infamous" The president of the university, Dr. Har- per, is reported by Professor Bemis as saying: Tt is all very well to sympa- thize with the working men, but we get our money from those on the other side and we can't afford to offend them"
 The result of 1t all was that Professor Bemis was dropped from the faculty. The Chicago Journal. commenting on the dismissal of the professor, who was un- willing to subject the college teaching 'to any lower aims than the pursuit of truth" uses this remarkable languages: "The pursuit of truth is not the object S,f,. .D111 .I,; H.. lessor who accepts the money of a uni versity for his work is to teach estab- lished truth"
 We are surprised that an intelligent journal should express such a sentiment. The great universities of the world are the seekers for and expounders of truth. They are the correctors of error. If er- roneous doctrines have been taught even for ages, it is their province and duty to wipe them out and substitute truth in their stead. Of course as to scientific matters there can be no dispute as to the right and duty of d college to teach correct propositions, based upon new dis coveries in the place of old theories, how ever sanctioned by time and great names. Greater care and wise discretion should mark innovations upon accepted moral and religious creeds. But even the wisest discretion should not hesitate to discard error in such matters when the preponderance of evidence is in favor of new conclusions. Principles remain for ever, but the deductions from principles are often modified by new habits of ac- ton and thought. The increase of req soning power in the modern day is throw n 1iobt all nlIaStiOnC that affect morals and religion.
 In the domain of sociology it is absurd to hold that a college must teach estab- lished doctrines. The science of sociology is constantly expanding and broadening in proportion to the newer relations of capital and labor, of government and people. The twentieth century will open up with the most profound inquiry into all the relations of life. Religion morals, government, labor and society will be modified far more than they have been modified during the nineteenth century, which opened up with almost savage life. The century which saw this republic established upon a firm basis cannot afford to admit that the established facts of monarchy, aristocracy and feudal tenure, should not have been questioned by the colleges or the people. The Chi cago Chronicle and other leading papers take a different view from the Journal. The Chronicle very justly says:
 Dives never cares to hear Lazarus point out his imperfections. Wealth winces when learning speaks slightingly of its methods. The Chicago University knows on which side it's bread is butter ed let us pour standard oil upon the troubled waters"