Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-05
CONSIDER THESE CONCLUSIONS

1.-THE most ominous sign of our
times is the indication Of an intol-
Grant spirit. 1t is more dangerous
when armed, as it usually is, with
sincere conviction 1t can be exor-
cised only by the genius which
watched over in infancy and has
guided our development-the Amer
lean spirit of civil and religious
liberty"
Courage Of convictions command a
certain amount of respect, newt
ably. If the logic Of those convic-
lions be unanswerable the measure
of respect should be full to over
flowing. Charles Evans Hughes al
ways has the courage and usually
the logic to go with it. We know
of no man in American life today
whose opinions are more entitled to
respect When he tells us what must
be done in the face of the most
ominous sign of our times" we will
be wise to heed his words.
In his recent address before the
American Bar Association he did not
hesitate to express his opinion re-
specting the intolerant spirit under
lying and motivating such efforts as
those that produced the Tennessee
anti-evolution law, the Nebraska
language law and the Oregon school
law. He made it SO plain that the
wayfaring man of limited percep-
tons may understand:
ITO control curricula in our pub
lie schools and State universities in
the interest of a reasonable arrange
ment of courses of study in order to
aid the acquisition of knowledge is
one thing; to attempt to control pub
lie instruction in the interest of any
religious creed or dogma is quite an
other"
William R. Pattangall, as appears
in his very able article, is the Ku
klux American" written for the
September Forum, arrives at logic
comparable with that of Mr.. Hughes
and his definition of "Americanism"
is especially worthy Of remem-
brance:
an ideal and spirit,-faith in free
dom, tolerance, humanity. 1t cannot
discriminate because of color, BIRTH
place, or creed; nor can it tolerate
caste, class. OF religious distinctions
in politics, social life, or legal stand
ing; especially it cannot for a mo-
ment endure the breeding and ex-
ploitation of hatred and prejudice as
means to, sway public opinion and
win political power"
Any and every claim to American
ism" should be submitted to that
test, whether it be the claim of the
Khan or the claim of those who
would have our schools teach only
that, regardless of the whole truth.
which may seem to agree with the
religious creed of the political ma
jority.
John Hunter Sedgwick, writing for
the North American Review, declares
that the Dayton prosecution really
hinged on the supremacy of dogma.
He adds:
Dayton and its products ex-
pose state of mind that will never
stop at the mere prohibition of
certain teachings, because it cannot
stop, it must continue to drive in it's
lopsided syllogism. So much for its
intellectual or so-called intellectual
side. Its profane and carnal side is
quite as clear; when the pup has
once been blooded to such meat, it
savors its success and will seek
more. This is shown in the steadily
increasing reliance on paternalism in
the United States as a substitute for
individual character. It is a confess
sion Of weakness, but triumphant for
the time being, and in the results of
the Scopes trial We see it developed
to the highest degree it has attained
in the United States, because it has
released for visible exhibition
body of thought that we now see has
been lying dormant, but has merely
held its activities in leash, not di.
unfinished, nor enlighteded,. but ready
to spring out, as it has DONE"
Where trained minds of unusual
clarity comprehend so much it would
seem fitting for the rest of us to
give the matter our serious, prayer
full consideration.