The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-30
altogether in Germany; but should re-
main positive, constructive. vital.

altogether in Germany; but should re-
main positive, constructive. vital.
Some of our esteemed contempora
ries of the newspaper press have a relig-
ious department. We should grieve to
discourage that use Of their space and
talent, albeit not too much of either is
absorbed in the good endeavor, for we
have lively sympathy for the relig-
ious state of a secular editor. But it
seems to be some ones duty to advise
these confiding souls and to warn their
readers, that printing selections from
five or six Of the several hundred relig
ious newspapers of the country is not
giving themselves fair show. The
situation is not improved by its being
the same five or six from week to week.
"There's Wilderness in Gods mercy" as
disclosed in the religious press. of our
era, not even family reflected by the
"man's narrow mind" who confines the
excursions of his scissors to so short a
range.
Mr.. Calthrop speaks of St. Paul as
a man who from false premises and by
bad reasoning reached magnificently
true conclusions. Whether or not this
is a just description of the method of
the great apostle, there can be no ques-
tion that it is the method of many mod
erns. We have had frequent occasion to
note how much more solid mems con-
clusions are than their reasoning would
lead us to expect. So it comes to pass
that we often listen with profit to the
teaching of men whose philosophical or
theological position, we should ear
nestly repudiate. They are not entitled
to the comfort they get and give, but
they have it in spite of logic.
We read lately an article by Roman
Catholic teacher Of eminence with the
conclusion of which we are in perfect
accord. The same evening we read an
essay by prominent Presbyterian di-
vine, to whose teaching-not his reasons
for tive gave hearty assent. Taking
up popular magazine we read discus
sion of sociology by an author from
whose general position we strongly dis
sent. But his teaching in this article
meets our approval. Once more, we
turn the pages of speech by promi-
ment partisan, expecting to disagree
with him at every point. But no; incon-
sistent as he seems to us to be with his
party position, his views-not his logic
strike us as sound and discriminating
Men are often mercifully saved from the
consequences of consistency.
Very interesting but not very enlight-
ening are the comments of the press on
the results of the recent elections. To
the Sun they mean that the country is
weary of Cleveland; but that would have
been the Suns Interpretation of any pos
sible turn of popular sentiment. To the
Tribune they are reputation of Free
Trade; but we have no free trade, the
present tariff being SO nearly high pro-
tective that the President would not
sign the bill. The World says Roosevelt
did it. The Post charges the Tammany
victory in New York to Warren Miller.
The press in other States is equally di
vergent. Different causes operated in
different sections; but the time has ar
rived when large numbers of voters go
easily from one political affiliation to an
other. The "lesson" is, that such voters
cannot be depended on to stay. The king
they enthrone today they will discrown
tomorrow. The party that learns to
stand by sound measures and to put for
ward clean and competent men to repre-
sent them, will, in the competition of a
course of years, win as it ought.
Prof A. HI. Sayce, the distinguished
assyriologist of Oxford, does not appear
to be snuffed out, as we were lately as
sured by member of the same Univer-
sity, he was in danger of being. He had,
it was said, in an unguarded moment,
attacked without due knowledge of their
impregnability. some of the positions OF
the newer school of Biblical critics.
Having recovered his breath. Prof. Sayce
rushes into the arena again, and asserts
on the authority of an expert, that the
evidence of archaeology is fatty against
the theory of the late production of the
Pentateuch, of the partition of the doc
uments, and OF the illiteracy of Israel
in the time of Moses. There is less re-
serve in the learned professors asser-
tions than one could wish. and not quite
SO much evidence. But it is plain that
the critics are not to have it all their
own way. The last word will not be
spoken on the subject for some days yet.
UNDER THE PROTECTION OF UNCLE