The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-06

In the current number of the Century
a thoughtful article concerning certain dan
gers which, he thinks, this country should
fear. The trinity of these dangers, he says,
is immortality, indifferentism and fanati-
cism, and he proceeds ably to outline in-
stances showing the gravity and imminent
Importance of these problems.
1t is doubtful whether this Republic has
any more to fear from immortality than
any other country. Our standards are as
high here as in any other, and public
opinion is even more decidedly against GER
tain forms of vice. At any rate. 1t is sub
ject to direct attack, and every wave of
reform cannot help having it's good ef-
feet. Indifferentism is far greater danger
than many suppose 1t Is most observable
in our municipal affairs, where graft" is
allowed to flourish for years, not because
the majority, of citizens sympathize with
it, but because it is difficult to arouse in
them any interest in the subject Vice is
winked at, not because it is thought right,
but because of deadly apathy on the part
of those whose concerted action could sup
press it, but even in this respect the coun-
try is waking up, as the Investigations and
exposures in so many of our cities indi-
cate.
Fanaticism is more difficult subject to
deal with. 1t has ever thrived on attack,
and it gathers strength from being de-
poupoad Offar IL hos its fo,,pdot;or u -or,o
lofty and noble principle, and it becomes
exceedingly earnest and aggressive. The
beauty of the underlying idea often at
tracts brilliant minds and men Of educa-
ton, and this constitutes bu,wark of
strength. These men are such slaves of
theory as to be blind to the evils resulting
from practical application Of their prin-
ciples. and thus they become the actual
defenders of positive abuse.
This is observed in all sorts of fanatical
sects, religious, political and sociological.
Socialism is upheld by some of the most
| brilliant thinkers of the age. Mothered-
dyism has gathered in it's fold many
eloquent and learned apologists. The noble
principle Of universal brotherhood blinds
the former to the evils of communism; the
| undoubted truths of mental therapeutics
betray the latter into false logic and re-
sponsibility for death.
| The greatest number of members Of ia
natical cults consists of half-educated per-
sons. With just enough information and
mental equipment to grasp certain Oft
ho,
| follow these ideas to their ultimate alb
| surdities. In the case of such people "a
| little learning" is indeed "a dangerous
thing" With them is a large number of
people who have really no understanding of
any settled principles. but, being con-
stantly on the lookout for "some new
/ thing to be used as a peg on which to
| hang their own han-digested vagaries,
| seize on what happens to be the most con-
venient and give themselves a local habita-
| ton and a name. Add to these two classes
the usual densely unintelligent swarm of
proselytes. and you have the general make
] up of a fanatical sect.
| Taken together. these three classes rep
resent such an immense proportion of the
/ inhabitants of any country that the dan
| ger of their banding together becomes ap-
| parent. A leader possessing powerful and
magnetic personality is all that Is needed
to drive them to all sorts of excesses. When
| such a cult becomes really strong its
strength is largely due to its chosen
| prophet. Mormonism and Joseph Smith
| Dowieism and Elijah III. Christian Science
and Mary Baker G. Eddy. the Free Silver
craze and William j. Bryan-thus goes the
tale. Anarchism only gains strength when
some powerful and unscrupulous leader
arises: Socialism is weak in those sections
OF the country where there is no strong
| personality to attract its converts.
The remedy for fanaticism is the same as
for all ether evils-broader and more wide.
| ly disseminated education, and higher
ideals Time strikes balance In the idea.
! OF extremists. The apostles assurance d