The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-12-19
NATURES SUPREMACY.
A Condition That Perverse Man Declines
to Recognize.


nral dngmas and to try and induce
them to put their trust in their in
stinct-thc true guide Of nature.
Anti naturalism has been the Lcsct-
ting sin of the human race from time
immcmorial.
"a nation superstition i, national
misfortune. No pious fraud has ever
advantaged the world, ror every roru
lar dclusion becomes tl.c mother Of a
noxious and numcron, progeny, says
Helyetius. Logcians distinguish be-
tween infcrcntal and prcsumtivc fall
lacics, the first being founded upon H.
logical conclusions from correct prem
ises; the second upon logical concln-
sions from Incorrect premises. With
few exceptions the most mischicvous
popular dclusion Of all ages, has arisen
from the latter the "presumptivc"
fallacics If man had been pcrsuad-
ed that cold was panacca, that man
would naturally conclude that Siberia
is the healthiest country in the world.
In Hindoostan, where the sanctity Of
horned cattle is ON established dogma,
no true believer would hesitate to in
dict an irreverent bull driver for bias
phemy, or to preserve becfstcak as
sacred relic.
AS long as we believe in anti-natural
dogmas, it is perfectly logical to as
cribe diseases to witchcraft and their
cure to prayer; to regard mans natur-
al instincts as his natural foes; to deny
the difference between one and three,
and treat mathematiciaps as enemies
of the human race.
From the moment man is born into
the world, he is treated on the princi-
pie that all Of his instincts are essen
TALLY wrong that nature must be
thwartcd AID countcractcd in every
possible way. He is strapped up in
contrivancc that he would gladly cx-
change for a straight jacket, and pre-
vent him from moving any limb Of his
body. His first attempts at locomo-
tion are checked; he is carefully guard
cd fror Tho outdoor world, from the
air that would invigoratc his lungs,
from the sport that would develop his
muscles.
Hence the pccvishncss, awkward
ness and sickness Of our young auto
Gratis. Poor people have no time to
initiate the absrrdties of their wealthy
neighbors, and their children profit Ly
what the model nurse would call neg
lect. Christian mothers rcproach
themselves with ncglccting their duty
to their children if they do not con-
stantly interfere with their move
ments; but they forget that in points
of physical education nature herself
is such an excellent teacher that the
apparent neglect is really trans
fer Of the pupil to more efficient
school.
When child complains of head
ache, lassitude, or want Of appetite,
the nurse concludes that he must 'tako
something" If baby squeals day
and night. doctor is sent for, and is
expected to prescribe something"
What that something should be, tho
parent is unable to define; but has q
vague idea that it should come from
drug store, and that it cannot be good
fer much unless it is bitter and nause-
GUS. Traced to its principle, their
theory would be about this: "Siokness
and depravity are tho normal condi-
tions of our nature, and salvation can
only conc through abnormal agencies,
and remedy, in order to be effective,
must be rs anti natural as possible"
But nature still persists in following
her own laws. Her physiological laws
she announces by tho instincts which
man shares with the humblcst Of his
fellow creatures, and health is her free
gift to all who trust themselves to the
guidance of those instincts.
Health is not lost by accident, nor
can it be repurchased at the drug
store. 1t ie lost by physiological sins
and can be regaincd only by SHINING no
more. Disease is natures protest
against gross violation of her laws.
Suppressing the symptoms of q disease
with drugs means to silence that pro-
test instead Of removing the cause.
We might as we'll try to extinguish q
fire by silcncing the fire bells; the
alarm will soon be sounded from anoth-
er quarter, though the first bell may
not ring again until the belfry
breaks down in a general copflagra
ton.
We cannot bully nature or defy her
resentment bya fresh provocation.