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Tebbe Haute, Indiana,August 14th, 1886.Editor Ironclad Age:Not thinking that my poor Dutch-American writings would be worth putting in type, while it is only four years since first I knew one word of the Amer-can language, I feel flattered that I may be allowed to express some noble thoughts now and then to your thinking readers and my companion travelers.I just happened to think of an interesting scene five years ago in the king’s residence, city of the Netherlands, better known as Holland. The name of this city is Hague. This city is known as a great watering place, and lays near the sea. Here used to live and think our friend and philosopher, Spifcoza. About two blocks from the public market stands yet his house in which he lived for many years. It is an old, plain, two-story brick house, and in front, above the second story, is till this day a stone in the wail with the plain name, Spinoza.In front of this house was erected five years ago, to the honor of Spinoza, a fine monument of pure metal. 1 happened to pass along when the pedestal waB being built. The boys of the lower classes of the population threw dirt and horse manure against and over the fences when the workmen had left, and that made me ask, “What is that going to be?” One of the boys answered that it was going to be a monument for an infidel and he did not think they ever would get it up.A few weeks afterward it was announced in all the Journals of Holland that the celebration of the monument of Spinoza would take place, and that great speeches by French, English, German and Holland freethinkers should be made. I had not the opportunity to witness the celebration, and was, moreover, too green to appreciate such an occasion, but I saw a few days afterward the monument There I saw Spinoza sitting on an old-fashioned chair in a cumbent position and with a large book on his knee in a thinking attitude for all the coming ages, and what surprised me then and amazes me yet is, that this very Spinoza, during and after his life, had been cursed and banished by the parents and grand-parents whose children erected a monument to his honor, and worship the thoughts and expression of the freethinker and philosopher, Spinoza.To innocently kill and curse the greatest statesmen, warriors and philosophers was human nature then; to deservedly erect monuments and support and praise the once much abused great statesmen, warriors and philosophers is human nature now.Can we complain of the advancement of light, reason and common sense of to-day? Certainly not. We may express our thoughts publicly, and religion has got no power to stop its progress. The wprld to-day asks for proofs, and stands by no hypothesis nor fiction. The chains are broken, and the lion is harmless.Db. J. Van Elderen.Are You Going West ?
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