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have established truths truths that will
demand vooognttion because of the ov
Idonco tlioy cany with thoiu. Not plau.
si bio theories awaiting future develop'
nuMU hut facts demonstrated by the uno
quivocal teachings of experience. Hence
wo shall review some ol the questions,
considered as solved and attempt to point
out tho condition under which they
reached thoir final adjustment.
As in tho division of our faculties men
tal endowments stand at the head let us
first take up the matter of conscience as
belonging to this department. The view
of the civilized world to-day is that con
corning beliefs, men should he allowed
perfect liberty. It required ages to reach
this conclusion, but the verdict is final.
No fears need be entertained that in the
future attempts will be made to cramp the
soul by forcing men's consciences into
tliis or that particular groove. In tho
progress of the world the same land
marks are never twice observed. In
reaching this position it has clearly estab
lished tho truth that freedom of con
.science is the inherent right of every
moral being, not a right dependent upon
certain conditions but universal am! abso
lute In the realm of mind what fact can wo
discover? The earlier history of the liu.
man race is marked by the little reverence
paid to intellectual deductions. The final
appeal for the settlement of every propo.
sitlon was to the feelings and over their
decision reason held but a narrow sway.
But as humanity advanced emotion was
found to be a dangeroiiB leader and the in.
tellect occupied a more and more promi
nent place, until finally it holds an uncon
tested throne. In this transition we ob
serv that the beneficent law of freedom
prevails in the mental world, that it gave
to the first order of men as their supreme
arbiter a standard not tho highest but
one best suited to their condition; that as
darkness faded away this standard re
ceded boforo tho onward stride of that
highest guide that divine spark of hu-
inanity an unfettered reason under
whoso dominion the present has been
achieved and the future filled of promise.
Tf we examine the political conditions
of the world wo find that, that is most
conducive to human happiness and pros
perity where political restraints are fewest
and liberty is most widely enjoyed.
Hence we conclude that absolute freedom
is the ultimate and highest condition of
society, and this conclusion may be sus
tained b) an endless number of special
cases.
When the art of printing was discov
ered and tho first press invented it was
looked upon as a monster that threatened
to destroy society, introduco anarchy
undo all that, had been done. So it was
chained but it broke its fetters. Censors
were appointed to watch over it, but it
eluded llieir vigilance. Despairing of
controlling they left it to its fate, to work
out in freedom its destiny. And thus
they solved the question. From being a
monster rushing upon socit for its des
truction it lias become its great conserva
tor and defender.
Again that inclination of mankind to
talk was not considered as the working
out of a wise plan but as the outcropping
of the frailty of human jjnaturc. Hence
arose that system of restriction and espi
onage which for ages stifled utlcronco.
This suppression, made undoubtedly with
the intention of protecting society and
advancing tho welfare of all, worked most
disastrously. Truth suffered, error tri
umphed. J ustico was crippled and abus
cs passed unchallenged. Oppression was
strengthened and tyianny was universal.
But gradually the spirit of freedom pre
vailed until what was considered a frail
ty has come to bo held as the noblest
birth-right of human nature. And to the
influence of freedom of speech we trace
the rapid progress of the world.
Freedom of exchange aflords another
illustration of our idea a principle as
yet but partially received in our countiy
but destined at no distant day to control
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