The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-07

same Is true of the Bible. But nature is a
fact. and If it have a governor his charac-
ter must be in harmony with his govern
ment."
sentence strongly intimates that DIR. John
does not believe nature has a governor
with the attributes OF a God. The first por-
ton Of the paragraph positively assumes
that IL nature has a governor he Is cruel,
implacable. tyrannical and wholly Without
sympathy, justice or intelligence. This Is
one of the most antiguated Of the orthodox
The old faith assumed that Gods moral
government was wholly distinct from the
operations of the material universe. This
what the church tand DR.. john has as
sumed to be the cruelty or Indifference OF
nature The churchman had found it i'm
dumb and feelingless government of nature
with the postuiated benevolence and infinite
goodness of the Christian Deity. So the
ing. designated the moral government OF
God and the other left without special
classification, but under suspicion of being
DIR. John will find it difficult 10 enforce
conviction by teaching the antiquated doc
trine that the laws which govern the world
and the universe are blind, purposeless or
fendish. TIL tendency OF all modern
scientific instruction is to recognize in the
laws of nature a wise and benevolent pur-
pose. The true philosophy Is bravely
voiced by Tennyson when lie says:
yet 1 doubt not through the ages one in
creasing purpose runs,
And the thoughts of man are widened by
the process of the suns"
The Doctors specifications are not fairly
stated. He says nature is savage, for IL
gives no quarter" He who understands
nature will not speak of this in reproof.
a n%m eani taw are ap Sas she u prlnc aRs idea ca IF justice ane
quarter that is. no compromise with
those who are guilty of infractions. The
processes Of nature are without the ele-
ment of mercy. So il is with the pro-
cesses of justice. NEEDLE carelessly with
fire and nature infiicts a burn. Disregard
the prohibitions of human law and the dis
penser of penalties cannot afford to 1g-
more the offense.
Is nature cruel? So must be the hang
man. Does nature make the innocent suf-
fer with the guilty? So must the written
law. Ignorance of the prohibition and
penalty can only be pleaded in mitigation;
and that is, after all, merely an appeal for
nature help the strong and Cypress the
weak?' Is there any human law that
does not? Is there any other way to i'm
press upon humanity the necessity of &C
quiring strength, fortitude. heroism? Is
nature ..'unfaithful in promising what it
cannot fulfill Mol Nature never prom
since creation. Is nature immoral. .'be-
cause by the law of the survival of the
fttest the weak become the slaves of the
wise in the moral or intellectual world?
The weakest argument on earth is the
plea of weakness. The stuff of which
heroes and heroines are made is happily
free of that quality. The weakness of a
tree is its rottenness. The weakness of a
man is his imbecility. Even involuntary
weakness appeals to higher natures mere
ly for their commiseration. The cry of
the altruist comes from the cowardice of
our natures. 1t is proper that only the
fittest should survive. The theory of
Christian salvation is. that only the fittest
shall inherit the kingdom of heaven All
the rest are to be burned with unquench-
able fire."
No assault upon nature or natures
laws will bear the scrutiny of reason. If
one H fsn wo 1%asl more eo tba TO t 1e p resf' it Of m any
be of those which He sin the beginning"
Endorsed with His own high approval by
~pronouncing it very good"
JOHN c. OCHILTREE.
Richmond, Ind, Oct. 6.