The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-06-29
WASHINGTON cosaa6iNf

little attention to theI
Fself-arranged controversy which Mr..
Bryan has staged between himself and
the demonstrated facts of evolution,
but the ends Of education appear
hardly well-served by attempting
refutation of Mr.. Bryan's idea largely
by ridicule.
Mr.. Bryan has no power to alter
the facts of nature, and what he be-
lieves or does not believe does not in
the least affect the progress of sci
ence. But his abilities and his promi-
nence have given him a large follow
ing and as many worthy people let
him to their political and moral think
ing for them, it is of some interest to
see that they. do not also permit him
to do their educational and scientific
thinking, too.
Mr.. Bryan has demonstrated him.
self as perhaps the ablest orator in the
country. He has a reputation as a
speaker, due to his knowledge and
outlook and experience as much, per-
haps, as to his voice, his magnetic per-
sonality and his personal charm. But
political, platform and oratorical abil-
ity do not constitute authority to say
| what is and what is not true in sci
ence. Nor does personal interpre
tation of the Bible constitute such
authority. 1t is but a few hundred
years since men were burned at the
stake for heresy; and not much later
that it was considered heresy to say
the earth was round, not the center
OF the universe, or that the "six days"
Of creation could mean anything else
than one hundred and forty-four
hoursl
With literally thousands of able
divines and learned scientists quite
content with their ability to see only
parallelism and not conflict between
the Bible and the theories of modern
science it would appear wise at
least, for any who attempt to follow
Mr.. Bryan all the way to ask them
selves whether they are lead because
Mr.. Bryan is really a leader in either
science or religion, or whether they
have not thrown his political
and oratorical mantle over his
attempt to arrogate to himself fin
al authority in matters of science!
Senator Borah has added one more
to his many services to the country.
In public letter he has stated: "year
after year Congress is dashed into
passing laws which are manifestly un-
constitutional, and it has come to be
settled principal apparently that
Congress should disregard the Consti-
tuition and leave the Supreme Court
alone to protect it.
ITO my mind such a rule is so ut
terly shameless, so utterly intolerable
that it is startling that it should be
even spasmodically urged.
If the people of this country
have made up their minds to deal with
all these matters (anti-lynching, child
labor, etc. through Congress, then
why not give Congress the power to
do so rather than urge course which
involves the lowest form of constitu-
ional immortality.
Americans honor no virtue above
courage. Courage in any form makes
mighty appeal to the people whose
whole existence, from the time of
the pioneers to the present day, has
been founded upon courage; courage
to dare, to do, to think, to stand up
and call the trust aloud. The great ma
tional heroes, Washington, Lincoln.
Roosevelt are venerated first for their
courage.
1t is non-courageous act. to vote
for law which the voter knows is not
constitutional merely to placate or
win the favor of "the folks back
home." And it is insulting to the in
telligence of these same folks back
home-Americans all, intelligent, able
to s'ft the wheat from the chaff-to
suppose that they regard as courage
Gus man who votes for the law which
conflicts with the Constitution merely
because the intent of the law voted
for is good.
Senator Borah hits the nail on the
head when he calls the practice
shameless" Senator Borah has q
moderation of speech which is admir-
able, but many will add "cowardly"
to shameless" and express their opin-