The Gavelyte, April 1909

CEDARVILLE COLLEGE. 71 ~urren-t Events. PROF. F. A. JURKAT. The point of view will determine to a large extent what anyone will re– ~ard a.s a current event. To some, the chief events of the last few months center around flying machines, and they will be pleased to learn that gold medals have been bestowed npon the Wright brothers. Others came out of their hibernating state on the fourteenth of the month, because the National Lea~ue season comme need on that day, and they are more concerned whether Hans Wagner will play this seasc,n than they would be if the Presi– dent had yellow fever. In the religious world there is plenty to read and , ponder about. The conflict in the Roman Catholic church between Modernism and the Papal encyclicals goes merrily on, being the counterpart of the struggle between the Liberals and Conservatives in the various Protestant denominations. The Conservatives insist upon dogmatism, plenary inspiration, and faith in authorities; the Liberals, upon empiricism, higher criticism, and indivinual judgment. The liberal in religion corresponds to the independent voter in politics, and the one is the bane of the organized party. It will be interest– ing to note which sect wins in each field. The independent voter did the business for Herrick four yean, ago in Ohio, and c_urious to relate, it was done on the advice of Taft, who was nominated last year by the Republican organization without being accused of mugwumpery. One reads his speeches in vain to find a recantation of the Akron doctrinP-. But the President is not a pioneer in this sphere of activity. Ever since the foundation of the government there have been mugwumps, and they even burst all thi parties in Monroe'<; administration. They defeated Clay four times, and contributed to the defrat of Blaine a quarter of a century ago. ~Jore recently an independent ~ovemAnt started in Iowa under the lead of <;overnor Cummins, called the Iowa idea. The main de– mand was for a revision of tht:- tariff schedule~, which was strenuously op– posed by Srnators A Bison and Dolliver of that state. Cummins appealed to the peop)P time and again anc! was as often endorsed. The death of Alli– Hon promotec! Cummins to the Senate, and in the meantime the doctrine had ,.;pr·ured :,;o many supporters that it became a national affair and waf.l called