The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-18
The Other View of 1t.
From the Montana Catholic.


The enthusiasm and delight with
which large and cultured audience
listened to Father MacCorry's schol-
arly lecture ON individuality on
Monday evening last, was not marred
by any feelings that detracted from
the confidence the hearers had in the
argument and eloquence of the speak
err. But Father MacCorry spoke, and
left this active camp with the thanks
of hundreds who had hung upon his
words, and who had caught inspira-
ton that will help in the daily ex
periences of life. The good impressions
that We're made, however will be large
ly obliterated If the accusations that
have found voice in one of our daily
contemporaries are well founded. That
such is the case, the Montana Catholic
does not for one moment believe. In
our opinion, the eloquent address of
the eminent divine was in the fullest
and truest sense entirely original and
a true expression of his character and
purposes in life.
1t cannot be denied that the par
lished have furnished sufficient ground
for one who can believe that the or
ator Is dishonest to find much that can
be construed to his detriment A few
of the citations are remarkably sim
liar. But on the other hand, many of
them We're exceedingly far-fetched, and
could only have been included in an
endeavor to use every effort to main
tain a weak argument. Enough of
similarity was given to render desir-
able few remarks concerning the ac-
cusation of dishonesty that has been
made.
In regard to the lecture as whole,
we do not understand that any one
has disputed the essential originality
of the thought or of the logical ar
rangement of the different sections.
This particular is vastly more impor-
tant than any question as to the mere
coincidence of the verbal expression.
Not that one of the ideas advanced
was necessarily new. Father MacCorry
would be the last to claim any such
thing. For in this age of the world
new idea is a rarity, and in SO cases
out of hundred new idea would
be a false one. But the ideas in Tn
dividuality" We're Father MacCorry's
own. He had made them such by
careful study and observation. They
had been selected from his wealth of
experience and the vast stores of his
learning to comprise his message to
our people.
There remains an admission that
there were many similarites in clauses
and sentences which, by reason Of the
attack that has been ma lie, will be de-
Sc, wing of explanation. If these sem
fences have been knowingly quoted
from the writings of the great infdel,
the Catholic will join in condemning
them as an Instance Of dishonesty and
deEravity. such as would greatly lower
our confidence in any speaker, and par
.iculsrly il. one who occupies such Il
position as does Father MacCorry. But
that such a coincidence existed, we be-
lieVe that the orator was as ignorant
as any of his auditors The Catholic be-
lieves that it knows Father MacCorry,
and knows that his personal character
is fully in keeping with the condolences
his friends have in him. He is not now
here to speak for himself But such
condition as has been pointed out, may
be explained in either of two ways.
| Father MacCorry has vivid magma
| ton, and a very remarkable memory.
He is not the first speaker, by any
| means, who has unconsciously quoted
| words of another which have been so
| Impressed on his mind that there has re-
| manned no concept that the sentences
| are not his original construction. Or If
| Matthew Arnold's definition of poetry
| is correct, that poetry is simply the
most beautiful, impressive and widely
effective way of saying things when
two great poets (and there are great
poets who write only prose) give ex-
preston to the same thought, the re-
semblance must be striking.
This last explanation we admit to be
| hardly the true one. But that there is
ground for just accusation of plagiar-
ism we empha tically deny. The true
| explanation is that Father MacCorry
has most retentive memory. To some
extent it is his misfortune. But it is a
misfortune in which we would like to
| share and take the consequences.