The daily morning oasis., 1920-08-21
EDITORIALS.
HEREsIEs, POLITICAL AND OTHERWISE

HEKESlES, PCLITICAL AND OTHERWISE
In these days of ferment and strife there is a
disposition to frown down everything that proposes
to better the condition of mankind, and make
lighter the burdens of the masses. And the
world seems to have forgotten that many
of the matters that are an accomplished
fact in the moral and political world once the
rankest sort of heresies This editor recall when
in these United States those who agtated the sav-
cry question were fairly octcacised in alleged
Cnctable society; and the word "abolitionist
epithet of reproach and obuouy.
In the field of religious belief there was the same
narrow way of measuring and questioning men.
The editor can recall when pronounced and avoWed
free thinker was viewed with abhorrence and an
atheist was considered as hardly fit to live. Even
that idea was impaired to children. We recollect
man named Doig, hardheaGod Scotchman Wno hV-
ed in our town when we were not yet in our teens
This man Doig was ar avOwao atheist; and he was
held in such awe by the children what we stood In
omen mouthed wonder when he passed down the
street, and in nfantile mid' were surprised that
the Almighty did rot snte hin with bolt from the
I,le. The whole tendency ard scope OF the thought
cf the time was that TIE scofer at Omnpotence was
dangerous mortal not fit to &c at large But TWO
or three generations before that children OF the Al
,;ohty all acknowledging and wOrshlrplng the same
God were lighting the fires Of persecution and BURR
ing one another at the stake differences In the
form and ceremony taken by Their respective methods
Of Worship To be hereto did not have to
deny the existence of God he mad only to insist up
on worshipping him according to Ills own predhc-
ton: and the stake his portion
Things have changed We greatly in both poll
tics and religion. Now there is permitted much more
latitude than formerly Yet IN both the religious and
political world there are hereto hunters who would
willingly re-establish the stake for punishment OF
those differing in belief from themselves.
In commenting upon these facts Judge Ander-
son of the federal court in Massachusetts, rendering
an opinion in criminal case said: II find period
in our history so full of hysteria until
we go back to the witchcraft oelusion.'
The New York World recently asserted that
were Thomas Jefferson earth today, and should
repeat noted utterance that "tbe spirit of resistance
to government is so valuable certain occasions
that wish It always to be kept alvie, the Post OF
flee Department would exclude him from the nails
grand iuries would indict him for seditlOn and
criminal syrdicalism; legislative committees would
sleze his private papers and search them for EVIL
dences of Bolshevism, and United States senators
would be clamoring for his deportation.
One of the causes for all his hysteria is the aw-
full strain and rack the world has sustained in the
great war; Through long AMI weary months the
world lived IN an atmosphere Of dread Strained and
wearied minds are not cannot be normal. But they
will become so.
One great step in the right direction would be to
inculcate in the mind Of ones self that hysera is to
be avoided over any subject. Let all recall and act
upon the admonition Of Apostle Peter prove all
things; hold fast to that which is good" Then grant
all others TIE same right.
When men adopt and act upon Peters principle,
then the world goes along in progressive way, adj
vancng step by step. But Wnen it ha|ts and begins
hunting heresies and heretics, there is sure to be
trouble.
These reflections lead us to the fact that in the
present Democratic candidate for president
of the United States, there is presented a
man with as free mind, and as open to conviction
as Peter himself. Because anything is branded as
heresy shuts it not from Governor Cox's attention
He believes in Peters doctrine: "Prove all things;