The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-10

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by even larger multiple, as the appro-
priation of over billion of dollars by
several recent Congresses testifies. Ex-
penses in the several States and in all
the cities dlarge towns of the country
have increased in an equal or higher
ratio. 1t seems as il the President could
scarcely have had his eyes open to these
facts when he called so merrily for more
revenue" That is one way out; but to
insist. as in his inaugural, or "strict
economy" were better.
The fun has begun. The Pope re
fused to recognize as valid the titles Of
the Anglican church and it's ministers.
They must come into Rome in order to
be in the succession. Now the Arch
bishops of York and Canterbury issue
their reply. which attacks the validity
of the Roman succession and proves by
historic data that it is every whit as
weak as the Anglican. If the Anglican
ministry is invalid the Roman is equally
30. Both are suspended from the same
thread, say the archbishops. And they
are right. But they are wrong in con.
cluding that the Pope was not conclusive
in his argument against them. The
fact is, both parties are right. The va
lidity Of the Anglican succession is a
myth, and so is the validity of the Ro-
man succession. Both are instances Of
family delusion as to lineage. adhered to
against the solid array of history and
reason.
The decision of the Supreme Court
on the antitrust law divides opinion
among experts outside as it did the mem
bers of the court itself. The question
before the court was. whether certain
contract as to freight tariffs is "in re-
straint of trade" The court says it is,
in the meaning of the antitrust law.
The criticism of the decision is, that it
strikes at the validity Of all contracts;
because, it is said. there are few con-
tracts relating to trade matters which
may not be alleged to be "in restraint of
trade" and therefore, according to the
decision, illegal. The outcry comes
mostly from the corporations affected
and from trust sources. This of itself is
not conclusive as to the evil effect of the
decision, either as to business or to
morals.
The same writer has reviewed the
recent biography of DR.. Miner in the
Christian Register, and again in the
Evening Post. In neither case is the
review what one would call sympathetic;
it is more symptomatic. It is somewhat
such survey and commentary as we
can imagine DIR. Miner to have written
of some of his Unitarian contemporaries.
He did not love them all equally, If it
had fallen to him to notice a biography
of certain Unitarian worthless he would
have betrayed one of his limitations and
let it be known that he could not esti-
mate judicially and appreciatively men
with whose opinions and aims he did
not sympathize. This is precisely the
cat whose claws protrude from under a
bushel and more of meal in the Register
and in the Post. Luckily DIR. Miner
was not reviewer. and so escaped the
temptation to become reviler.
Criticism of men and structures on
books are to be expected, even welcomed.
Let nothing pass until it has been sub
jected to scrutiny. Give us the man as
he was. We prefer him to any stuffed
image labled with his name. DIR. Miner
was puritan and a prophet, and he had
the virtues and failings of these OK.
tremely useful characters. He believed
in God and in righteousness; he hated
lies and shams; he loved battle, and he
did not know fear. He was a superb
soldier but not a great general, He saw
what should be, with an eye clouded by
no mists; but his confidence was too i'm.
plicit in patented means for reaching the
end. He was vigorously, consistently,
infiuentially on the side of reform in
legislation. politics, municipal admins
tration. methods of education, the en-.
franchisement of women, treatment of
criminals and the insane. management
Of corporate business and the integrity
OF the home. In pursuing these ends
he sometimes mistook prejudice for prin.
ciple, and narrowed his sympathies lest
he should strike hands with the foe.
Such strong and transparent qualities,
sustained by an acute and powerful in
tellect and united with high personal
character. should be seen and recognized
by everyone. 1t does not evince large
nor amiable temper to try to write down
such man under pretext of reviewing
a book.
CANTON THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL.
....Dr. Walter @. Smith. the popular