When a prophet like John Brown
appears, how must we of the world receive him? Must we follow
out the drear, dread logic of surrounding facts, even if they
crucify a clean and pure soul, simpy because consistent allegiance
to our cherished, chosen ideal demands it? If we do, the shame
will brand our latest history. Shall we hesitate and waver before
his clear white logic, now helping, now fearing to help, now
believing, now doubting? Yes, this we must do so long as the
doubt and hesitation are genuine; but we must not lie. If we
are human, we must thus hesitate until we know the right. How
shall we know it? That is the riddle of the sphinx. We are but
darkened groping souls, that know not light often because of
its very blinding radiance. Only in time is truth revealed. Today
at last we know: John Brown was right.
When a prophet like John Brown
appears, how must we of the world receive him? Must we follow
out the drear, dread logic of surrounding facts, even if they
crucify a clean and pure soul, simpy because consistent allegiance
to our cherished, chosen ideal demands it? If we do, the shame
will brand our latest history. Shall we hesitate and waver before
his clear white logic, now helping, now fearing to help, now
believing, now doubting? Yes, this we must do so long as the
doubt and hesitation are genuine; but we must not lie. If we
are human, we must thus hesitate until we know the right. How
shall we know it? That is the riddle of the sphinx. We are but
darkened groping souls, that know not light often because of
its very blinding radiance. Only in time is truth revealed. Today
at last we know: John Brown was right.