The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-14
biblical RecOrder.l

byteranS with assurance of their cui-
ture and their dignity. We confess that
when the North Carolina Presbyterian
came out in behalf of State-aid and man
fested Il willingness to discuss the queS-
ton. we took assurance of this sort, and
were glad for the prospect of a whole
some discussion. Imagine our diSap-
pointment upon realizing that the Pres
byterian has gone the beaten way of all
the others who have taken that. side of
the State-aid controversy. We answered
its first argument according to the tests
of reason. 1t rejOins with bubbles. small
talk and ridicule. 1t must be impossible
to defend State-aid.
1t is useless to argue with an OppO-
nent, who so clearly has no purpose of
being either fair or dignified, who would
rather appear to gain IL little point by
bubble than to meet a real proposition
with argument. But once again in hopes
that it will perceive and understand.
The Presbyterian prints Il letter con-
tanning the inference that the Recorder
stated that five hundred Presbyterans
assented to the position he took in a
speech at Red Springs letter from a
gentleman who once before found him
Tossing that he had misrepresented us.
We said we were never more cordially
endorsed than Mt Red Springs; and that
there were 800 Presbyterians present,
giving it to be understood that many of
them were with us. We did not take
the names down. as they were introduce
ed: and of course any one will recognize
the childishness of the Presbyterian's
= ,,+ anonc fINhnrn
between two thousand and three thou
sand people at the Red Springs meet
ing. and that being Presbyterian
stronghold we take it that the estimate
that 900 Presbyterians were pres
ent is n moderate one.
But the larger question is the ques-
ton of principle. Men may deny and
affirm facts all day to no profit or pro-
gress; but when you come to a principle
it is like thirteen-inch shell hurled
from n battleship. and you have got to
meet it with proper armor or get out of
the way. or be annihlated. And what
does the Presbyterian do? Behold:
mo higher education by the State is
better for Christianity than for the State
to maintain higher education. And upon
this proposition we take our stand" said
the Recorder And the Presbyterian thus
namely but truly replies: '"To which we
can only reply, There are things at
which one stands struck silent, as at first
sight of the Infinite
Very true The Presbyterian stands
struck silent, and by a simple logical
statement Of proposition, silent as the
grave. so far as argument goes. 1t drops
the matter without another word and
rushes away from the principle back to
personalities. Under the circumstances
we feel that the Presbyterian deserves
credit for confessing that it has no reply
and must stand struck silent. Poor, sill
ent. stricken Presbyterian, what a pity
it did not catch sight of this proposition
before it rushed so all unprotected into
controversy.
But it RECEIVERS sufficiently to gasp that
the mere fact that Il teacher in school
is a Christian makes the school Chris
tan school, On the same plan we have
Christian saloons. Christian barber
shops. Christian Administrations and
Christian Supreme Courts. And, more
over. there is nothing in the laws of the
State to require that the State-supportedI
teachers shall be Christians; which may
also strike the Presbyterian silent.
The Presbyterian said that for Christ
tians to try to elect representatives in the
General Assembly who will represent
them is mixing church and State with a
vengeance. We replied that upon this
principle the Presbyterian cannot en-
courage its readers to vote against the
saloon. And the Presbyterian calls this
an insult and beseeches the world to be-
hold and-be struck silent, for all We
know. We call our statement logical
proposition; and we advise our cOntem-
porary to take it for Il praXis, since he
evidently needs deal of practice in SIM
pie reasoning.
And gaining little breath our contem-
porary undertakes to tell us that we get
our arguments against State-aid from
the Jesuits--the rankest Stateaid people
the world has ever known. Shades of
Presbyterian culture! Our opponent not
only forgets his logic but he has buried
his histOry-bOok! Let us get patroniz-
ing and tell him just Il thing or two. We
do not get our arguments from the
Jesuits; we do battle against the very
principles which they built up. But the
Northern Presbyterians in Western
North Carolina are initiating the Jesults
in their school work to the letter-tak-
ing the States money wherever they can
and all they can to support their secta-
rian schools. And we give the Presby-
terrain fair notice that we are going to
move against it's Northern brethren's
works straightway and henceforth, and
never cease till they are done for. Won
der will the North Carolina Presbyterian
be once again-struck silent? We shall
verify see who gets arguments from
Jesuits.
The Presbyterian also acknowledges
that it believes in 'denominational
schools most heartily" The confession
will prove good for the souls of our con-
temporary and his readers. We are to
be thanked for putting him on record. |
We had thought that he was also struck |
hopelessly silent on this matter.
1t is very becoming, very beautiful, |
very sweet and sanity, very logical and |
very powerful withal. for the Presbyte
rian to drag the Whitsitt matter into
this discussion. Where, o where are
swinging McGiffert and out-lawed
Briggs!
And. finally, we would not omit to note