The record-union., 1895-03-06


Let those who are enthusiasts for radical
reformation bear in mind and reflect that CO.
erclon is Tor the willful and vicious but con-
vict1on OF the reason is the anchor Of true re-
1orIn.-RI UNION.
The above admOnitlon is salutary, but not
wholly true. Conviction of the reason" is
not the anchor of true reform " but convic-
tion of the conscience. Reason has had but
secondary, though important part in the de-
Velopment of mankind. There are powers
more subtle than reason and more sure. We
advance as our humanities develop and all
reforms are, at bottom, moral reforms to be
accomplished by getting at mems hearts
rather than their heads.
The RECoRD-UNIoN might accept the
amendment to obiige it's philosophic con-
temporary, but it is disposed to hold that
it is not so much matter of conscience as
OF reason. because the conscience that is
not ballasted with reason is a most un-
certain and unreliable mentor.
Conscience is an inward principle, we
are told, but that is vague; it is, we
think, rather the result OF education and
environment. The cannibal who eats his
fellow man suffers no reproach of con-
science, but if his reasoning powers can
be quickensd and broadened sufficiently,
his conscience will so expand as to check
his appetite for human flesh.
Conscience approves or rebukes; it
may make towards of US all, without the
support of reason. Conscience enables
us to judge ourselves, but not necessarily
with reason; indeed, as we have been
influenced by environment so will the
judgment of conscience be.
But reason is the substructurs of reso-
luton. 1t uuderlies determination. 1t
is logical when normal. 1t leads US from
cause to effect by steps solid, firm and
uniform. Conscience, however, may be
said to be the rein to Judgment, while
reason is the motive power of judgment.
Conviction as to the wisdom of true re-
forms proposed and promoted is oftener
the child of reason than OF conscience.
But our contemporary, when it insists
that through conviction of conscience we
science and reason. The national con-
science, so to speak, was quickened to
abhor slavery, but we take it that it was
the reasoning with men that opened the
doors of conscience on that subject. It is
very true that we advance as our human
tiles are developed, but our humanities
Ior koI
developed wholly through cultivation of
the conscience, but largely through cult
vation of the reasoning powers, which
enables US to correct the mentor con-
science when it sounds false alarms,
which it sometimes does, simply because
the reason has not been informed or ex-
ercised.
In most eforms we must get at mems
hearts, tits true, but we fear that few re-
forms would be permanent if the heart
| behind them was not fortified by the rea-
son underlying them. Our friend may
be Christian through emotion, and the
pull OF conscience quickened by emotion;
but his Christianity will not endure if it
is not based on reasonableness.
However, these metaphysical hair
splittings amount to little; the prime
thing is the truth that we sought to inn
press upon our enthusiastic reformer
| friends, namely, that men are more easily
| led than driven. Therefore it is wiser fer
them to say, "Come, let US reason to-
! gesher."