Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 20.djvu/421

Rh in the treatment of what ho regards as religious errors.

A line is to be hero drawn, clear and sharp, separating this mode of regarding religion from that which proclaims it to be a sham, an imposture, and a mere invention of priestcraft to cheat credulous people. Between him who believes that religion is a great and sacred reality, and him who denounces it root and branch, as a delusion originating in fraud and knavery, there can be no common ground. These are not the "same opinions," but diametrically opposite opinions. A criticism of religious errors, however trenchant it may be, if it gives the subject sincere and respectful consideration, is as different as any two things can be, from a spiteful, ruthless, and exasperating assault upon the religious sentiment of the community. And when these opinions are published for no other reason than to startle and shock the public by their audacity, and for no other than a sordid purpose, the case is still further aggravated. "The Popular Science Monthly" has left others to make what they might out of this policy.

The writer in the "Post" complains that we have not published the views of such men as the Duke of Argyll, to which we reply: 1. That we should have been glad to publish the Duke of Argyll's articles, but had no room for them. 2. That we started a supplement to make more room, and did publish the views of the Duke of Argyll. 3. That the papers of his Grace have been very widely reprinted in other channels, so that the public has experienced no inconvenience from the want of them. The "Monthly," we must remember, was established, not for the display of polemical pugilism, but for the serious purpose of placing before American readers the most important results of scientific thought as presented by its ablest expositors. So far, indeed, has it been from seeking sensational papers, that its main purpose was to publish a class of valuable scientific articles, which, because they are too heavy or will not pay, or conflict with public prejudices, were systematically excluded from our current magazines. While striving to make our pages as varied and attractive as possible, we have not sacrificed the character of the magazine to promote its pecuniary success We have maintained a steady course, our last issue is strictly in the lino of the first, and all the wide approbation that has been accorded us from the beginning is as applicable now as it ever was.

The "New York Observer," in commenting upon this subject, agrees with the writer in the "Post" that the "Monthly" is as bad as the "Review," if not worse, and it very plainly says: "We with thousands hope sincerely that the commendable course taken by the eminent publishers, in kicking the 'Review' out of their premises, will be followed in regard to the 'Monthly.' Or, what would be better still, let us hope the 'Monthly' will omit its atheistic teachings, and become such an organ of science as the great body of intelligent people will admit with confidence into their homes."

We have exploded the charge of the "Post" writer, here repeated, because he gave us his evidence, and we had something tangible to deal with. But the "Observer" scents atheism in everything scientific, and, if we began to expurgate in accordance with its notions, we should have to expunge the whole "Monthly." For does not the "Observer" hold evolution to be atheistic? And what would "The Popular Science Monthly" be, minus evolution? It is the new dispensation of scientific thought, cropping out everywhere, antiquating old views, affording new explanations, reorganizing knowledge, and guiding the researches of scientific men in every field of investigation. Those who do business on old opinions are in a great state of perturbation and