Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-07-14
LOOKING IN WRONG PLACE


Truth has been known to emerge
from strange places and unfavoraoie
conditions, but If looking to Dayton
Tennessee, for 1t one should take In
to consideration the unfavoraoleness
Of conditions. Reports indicate tnat
the sentiment there is altogether
one sided, also bitter. While Bryan
IL asked to preach against evolution
and a school superintendent declares
he is the greatest man in the world
q pastor of another church Is forceo
IA give up the ministry because ne
is not permitted to invite a clergy
man TO speak, who is an evolutionlst.
An attorney for the defense retireo
from the case because he wishes TO
be an opponent Of Judge Rauiston'
NOW sitting in this case, at the elec-
ton of a Judge coming a little later
and does not wish to excite pre1udice
by defending evolution.
Someone ought to take the oand-
age off Justices eyes so she may
watch her steps out In tennessee
or is II off and Is Justice Watching
politics rather than the truth? He
who is credulous enough to THINK
that such conditions make for JUS
tice. for sane conclusions, for credit
able results, Is indeed unfortunate
But to assume that the agitation
there caused may have beneficial re-
suits Is not altogether unreasonable
The New York World has an able
editorial portraying the possible
menace in Bryan's attitude, declaring
that he "has now made it plain that
he intends to devote the remainder
Of his life to raising a religious issue
In American politics" Referring to
the fact that only half Of our fifty 70
sixty million voters take the trouble
10 vote even for President 1t express
es the belief that many Of these inert
citizens are extraordinarily suscept-
ible to religious agitation. The ordi-
nary questions in public life do not
interest millions upon millions OF
American citizens. and the existing
parties do not reach their emotions
at all. But a religious issue arouses
popular feeling as nothing else can
It is capable of penetrating the re-
rnotest hamlets. and Of producing a
frenzy which few politicians dare &c
resist"
So, 1ust as civilization the world
over concludes from its horrible ex'
perience in the World War that wal
itself settles nothing, are we to pro-
ceed to learn from horrible expert
ences in religious, creedal, warfares
that those contests never did and
never will definitely settle anything
There will be those who will believe
unto the end that the Creator created
the soul Of man in its present state
there will be others who will believe
that soul is development, al
evolvement; also some, we assume
who will try to believe there Is ne
such thing as soul, and 1t is no
clear how these differences may b'
adjusted either on the battlefield OF
by controversy in court. Nor is i
clear that necessity requires the
teaching Of either view in the
schools. On the other hand it is alb.
surd-and would continue to bt
though Bryan should secure Con,
stitutionaI amendment demanding i
to teach, in view Of all the evidence
to the contrary, that this world was
created in six days of "a hours each;
or to assume that If this be taught
Christianity is doomed. The inspira-
ton that would stifie the teaching Of
well authenticated truth Is the in
spiration that impels an ostrich tt
bury its head in the sand for feai
of seeing something it does not wish
to see.
We hope mankind has evolved be.
yond the ostrich stage of inspiration
The result of this trial in Tennessee
however. will not determine that
matter. Evidently that community
Is much better adapted to the needs
1 Of an ostrich farm than to stimulat-
Ing search for scientific truth. Those
looking there for settlement Of vex-
ing questions are looking in the
wrong place.