The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-15
I l..

\ more modest plea Of the author
is of curse that past history offers
some clue TO what the future will
bring forth and that IL is the func-
ton Of the historian TO make known
the lessons of the past and reveal as
much as he can Of the future.
Mr. Jane says that the need for an
explanatory factor in history has been
widely recognized. OptIm!sts have
sought II in a theory OF constant
III, gross. pcsSimists In a theory Of
consistent rs,rogressiou. To one the
orist every age Is better than that
which preceded IL, to another the
condition of the world becomes pro-
excessively more and more evil. II
might Ice more fair To- say that to the
reasonable pess.mist progress and ret
rug ,ssinn seem capricious rather
than Systematically and steadily on
the downward track. The optimist
draws attention to the wider diffusion
Of political power. the increase in ma
terial well being Of mankind. the
spread of civilization. But demo-
cratic government may easily become
bureaucracy. inc material prosperity
demands no light price. The author
feels hat to describe history, how
ever. as Il record OF the conflict be-
tween the forces of progress n those
Of reaction * really to say nothing.
The narlrc Of the conflict has To be
determined. and . can Ice determined
only by consideration of the individual
man. 1t is in the conflict which de-
terminss the conduct of the individual
that the key to history is To he found
The original point in our authors
! view as 10 the seat Of conflict in the
individual lie is that it is not n con-
fiict bctweco mans higher ana lower
natures or between phe spiritual and
animal natures at all. The anima, IN
stincts, the author points out, are
far from being all evil, and II is fire.
q~uently the casc that a man uses his
intellectual abilities though these are
not really a part of his spiritual va
tureD to evil ends. OF all the ac-
tivities of tho mind religion and love
are those by which man Is most pro-
foundry influenced. Flo these causes
men have been most ready 10 die and
to make supreme sacrifices. II there
fore II il possible Ia discover the mo-
tives which determine IA mans ne"d
OF religion and the motives which in
ducc him to give and To- seek love We
shall have found ont the true nature
of the conflict ~ the individual lie.
Mr.. Jane then proceeds TO point on,
that most men shrink from the re-
sponsihil.ty Of facing l!fe's problems
unaidcd. They would submit to any
Grsput.sm rather than assume The
hurdea of private Judgment. Thus In
the face "f the littlcn.sS Of human III,
In tho immensely of tho universe. Us
brevi,y In all eternity, men are driver
Ia seek consolation in the belief thai
II deity orders their life and shapes
them for some greater destiny. Dog
matte religion, therefore. owes IL
vitality to mars realization of hi'
own insiGnifirance. What is mar
that Thou art mindful, Of him." is Thu
keynote of all existence. The true an
sWcr 10 this desire for guidance an,
control the author finds in tn" cX
plic.t doctrines Of the Roman Church
TIL, creed of this Church definitely de
mics man any right To private jndg
, mcnt.. And in that very denial lies il
! strength, only, says Mr.. Jan", In -
far as a church gratifics the desire %
! the individual 10 be ruled can II live
lie therefore predicts the total WreCl
I of an the Protestant churches viii
p their CLEANSING standards of authority
T. The only logical position in the r,li
! eiuus field is catholicism and outsid
-! tina, agnosticiSm. The bodies q
floating opinion in between these Nv
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