The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-30
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

by DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES
XXTHILE correcting the proof sheets of "A
w History of Civilization" was struck once
more with the ferocity and bigotry manifested
in the struggles between the early Christian
sects Most Of the heresies of the Early Church
turned about minor points of doctrine but
over these, countless thousands fought and bled
and many thousands died. The violence with
one group assailed another is well exemplifled
by the "Epistle of Jude" In the following words
the writer of this book denounces those who
departed in the slightest from what he con-
ceives to be the truth
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the
way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error
Of BALKAN for reward and persisted in the gain
sa wing of Core. These are spots in your feasts
of charity when they feast with you, feeding
themselves without fear; clouds they are with
out water, carried about of winds trees whose
fruit withereth without fruit, twice dead, plucked
up by the roots; raging waves Of the sea, foam
ing out Of their own shame; wandering stars. to
whom is reserved the blackness of darkness
forever"
Coming along few centuries we find the
Roman Empire, now controlled by the Christian
church, cursing those who do not hold precisely
| to the doctrine of Trinity eXpounded by Damas-
Gus of Rome, and Peter of Alexandria:
"All others We judge to be mad and de-
mented; we declare them guilty of the infamy
of holding heretical doctrine; their assemblies
shall not receive the name Of churches. They
shall first suffer the wrath of God, then the
punishment which in accordance with divine
| judgment we shall infct"
! TT happened that at the same time was look
ing through my copies of the New Masses"
and was struck by the similarity in the psychol-
ogy to that manifested by the early Christian
/
nal assaulted the reviewers in the New York
Times Sunday literary section as white guards,
assigned to assassinate any books favorable to
Soviet Russia.
Whether this charge is correct or not GER
tainly it is only fair to recall that, after the
famous exposure of the news published on Russia
in the Times which was brought out by Walter
Lippmann in the New Republic, the Times has
published more valuable and authentic mate
| rial on Russia than has appeared anywhere else
| in the EngliSh-Speaking world. But for Walter
DUranty, many thousands of Americans would
be entirely iliterate with respect to the Russian
situation.
But when this critic sails into the Times re-
viewer, John Chamberlain and denounceS him
as a weak "stradder" this is little too much
Mr.. Chamberlain is known best for his book
Farewell to Reform" which is a very critical
summary of American progressivism and liberal
ism in the last generation, and a fortnight re-
linquishment of any hope in reformist programs
Mr. Chamberlain has gone as far to the left
as any open minded realist could be expected
to go, and the fact that the New York Times fea-
lures him as a reviewer is a remarkable testi-
monial to his tolerance and appreciation of high
| ability.
TNVEN more reminiscent of the diatribes of
Il the old hereses were the remarks of Mr..
S. Snedden in reviewing the anthology by AL
fred Bingham and Seldom Rodman, Challenge
to the New Deal" This book is a sweeping criti-
cism of the New Deal, and its contributors con-
stitue most of the brilliant left wing specialists
on American civilization today. Yet, because
| they do not jump when Moscow sneezes, Mr.
Snedden denounces them and their type in
| language which matches that of the author of
the Book of Jude:
ut has been matter of note that some of
the cleverest and most influential enemies of
the working class have been prepared for their
careers by a taste at the MARKHAM spring The
little knowledge of these renegades has indeed
turned out dangerous thing-for the masses
Whatever the reason, the modern type
renegade prefers to continue as revolutionary
rather than undergo public conversion to the
faith of the enemy, but by these same signs
independence and 'Americanism-y shall know
him
AS revolutionary he must of course, raise
up new group to embody his message. And
his main source of recruitment will be those who
have already set out on the road to the left
Somewhere this side of the logical goal of these
leftWard travelerS-which is of course in this
country the American section of the Communist
International-our Scylla-renegade will take I'D
his station to snap up the unwary'
So long as the American radicals stick to
back-stabbing in their own ranks as their great
indoor sport, the American Bourbons can sit
pretty with few grounds for fear