The Washington times., 1905-03-21
. washington Times

To the Editor of The Washington Times:
Every lover Of liberty owes The Times
a debt Of gratitude for it's open columns
Trui h only asks a hearing; and If she
had had this heretofore many OF the
abuses that have crept into our civil
Institution, and which now become the
precedents and apology for further ag-
gression, would not have obtained.
Permit me 10 say that whatever abil-
ity Gen. Henry Boynton possesses, he
does not see the bearing Of the new step
he is about to take. which he justifies
by previous steps in the same direction
1t is "the last straw that breaks the
camel's back" and '.one false step al
ways leads to more. +"
He naively asks those who fear this
new movement how long IL would take
before a repeal OF article OF the amend
merits to the Constitution could be ef-
fected. Let me tell him il is not neces-
sary to formally repeal law TO make
1t inoperatiye Laws ere seldom re-
pealed until after they have passed TO
desuetude.
The orecedents General BOynton builds
on are steps in the direction of ignoring
this nendnent-every one OF them
| though they may not be sufficiently in
furious to awake general opposition
Constitutions are frail things when the
law Of liberty and equality is not written
! IN mems hearts.
! II Is easy for a majority with little
conscience or fanatical belief 10 sup
press free speech under the plea that
such language subverts peace and NOR
ais and 10 establish q theology under
| the name of needed morals.
| We know how Christians tortured the
will of Girard (who specifically oeclaree
| that the presence Of a clergyman OF the
| teaching Of theology should not he per
| rnitted in the university he endowed.
| but that all should be taught natufai
| morais) by getting Christian judge &c
say that morals could not De taught
| without religion-and religion with THESE
people always means theology.
! Our Constitution says no religious
| test shall ever be required as a quaiff-
cation to any Office" and yet in the lace
of this the majority has established a
lpublic ce-chaplain-whose very func-
lions require subscription to the theo-
I logical belief that God hears and an
swers prayer. Natural religion can exlsi
in the face of a positive denial OF tbs
dogma.
! Does General Boynton not know thai
in introducing the Ten Commandment
! into the school as Gods commandments
he is introducing theology? And II onf
more?
Suppose some of the teachers under
film are wise enough to know the bar
barous origin OF commandments tina
classify a mans wife as his property
like his OK and his ass. and refuse L
/ teach such dogmas, what viii be az
about It? Would he discharge Ralph
Waldo Emerson or q Herbert Spencer
If they refused, which undoubtedly thel
would? And IS this not drawing q theo
, logical qualification for eligibility a.
: | teachers
1 am astonished that man Of his edu
cation should talk as he does. Civiliza
tion IS built on the Ten Commandment:
| in the same sense as IL is built on (
more primitive barbarism. The mos
) barbarous notions were not totally false
The pirate who sunk the bell of tn
Inchcape rock little dreamed that hi
; own boat would be wrecked thereon.
| 1 bid General Boynton beware that b