Newspaper Page Text
LAP 7
UV-
^0.7
OPINIONS.
Every man has his opinions. Few,
indeed, there are who feel any deli
cacy' in giving them expression on
any and all occasions. The vast
majority of our fellow creatures
come into the world with a very
stro g, inate conception of their right
to entertain whatever opinions they
please, and live apparently for the
sole purpose of constantly exercis
ing that highest of human preroga
tives. “I think so and so,” says
Squire Brown. “I beg leave todifler
with you,” says Squire Smith. “Sir,
be Careful how you dispute my word,
for 1 tell you my observations have
convinced me that I am right,” in
sists Squire Brown. “Well, I will
state, sir,that my observations equal
ly as good as yours, have convinced
me that you are wrong,” retaliates
Squire Smith, with a rising inflec
tion towards the close “Well I
say you are a . fool,” returns.
Squire Brown. “Well, I say you
are a liar,” roars Squire Smith,
in anger. Thereupon the infuriated
Squire Brown pounces upon Squire
Smith like a hungry tiger, and soon
the two dignified squires are rolling-
in the dirt in highly animated con
fusion. Finally Squire Smith sub
dued by the pugilistic power of his
antagonist, a result which his logic
fails to accomplish, and painfully
realizing that this is physically if
not metaphysically the weaker side
of the argument, cries “enough.”
Accordingly Squire Brown, satisfied
with his triumph releases him, add
ing as he does so, “I’ll let you go
this lime, but be careful in the fu
ture how you contradict me.” In
shame and tatters Squire Smith
turns his foot steps homeward,swea
ring vengeance as he goes. Mrs.
Smith meets him at the door, with
the affectionate salutation, “I told
you so, you stupid blockhead.” “If
you were as harmless and inoffen
sive as your wife, you would never
get into trouble. 1 hardly finish
mending one of your shirts and
patching one pair of your breeches
before here comes another. I wish
I had never married you, Mr.
Brown.” Such a scene as this is too
often the result of a clash of opin
ions. Both cannot be right, and in
the great majority of cases both are
in the wrong. If a man would only
stop to inquire how deeply his con-
-Mjmj-——■
victions lie and whether they are
founded upon reason and right, be
fore provoking a dispute, such un
happy results would seldom occult
When We come to seriously con
sider the Importance of opinions in
the light rif human nature what lit
tle value do we find them to possess.
Very fevv persons, indeed, hold opin
ions that represent the result of de
liberate conviction. It would not be
unreasonable to estimate that hardly
one man in a hundred has paused to
inquire whether his opinions are
founded upon observation and rea
son, or whether they are mere senti
mental ideas unconsciously con
tracted during the course of his
life time. The opinions which ma
ny people entertain have been re
ceived (ram others. In childhood
when impressions are easily and
permanently made, we are constant
ly hearing the opinions of those
about us. [Respect for these persons
and a desiy'vji.0 possess their app'O-
bation, wohid naturally lead us to
adopt their views, even should we
not insensibly contract them by the
mere frequency of hearing them ex
pressed. As we grow older and hear
nothing that is inconsistent with
these prepossessions, they acquire a
stronger hold upon us, regulating
our conversation and operating in
all our actions. Educated in these
ideas, we never once dream that they
may be fallacious, or that those di
rectly opposite may be correct. Such
opinions as these cannot be appro
ved by reason, and yet there are
thousands who are influenced by no
other kind.
A great many opinions reflect the
results of particular positions in
which men are placed. The man
who is introduced into the world
amid scenes of elegance and luxury,
and as lie grows up is attended with
all the appliances that artificial dis
tinction cud confer, is disposed very
naturally by his own personal feel
itigs to adept those opinions which
tend to serure and. perpetuate those
advantages. On the other hand, the
man who lias been oppressed by ad
verse circumstances, is disposed by
his own natural inclinations to
adopt the very opposite views. And
hence it is that we find such a di Ter
ence of opinion between the wealthy
and influential on the one hand, and
the lower working classes on the
other. A man’s political opinions
EXCHANGES.
are determined in the great majority
of cases, not by conviction, but byl
either the preferences of his fore
fathers or those of the community
in which fortune has placed him.
A man will very naturally stand up
on a political issue just as his father .
stood before him. In the case of -wrage spat between two college journals.
foreigners who settle in our country,f* ! '«efore, we are compelled to pass many
their political opinions become iden
tified with those among whom their
lot is east. Hence, in this country
We always begin our work in this de
partment with some misgivings, disliking
to criticise, since it is sure to provoke a
Controversy and there is nothing so tire
some to both reader and writer, as an
by without any comment: not, however,
laying claim to any merit in thus casting
[''be cloak of charity over the defects of
our Irish, French or German citi-j I'thers, but it is simply out of regard for
zens, without the remotest knowl- 'such of our readers as may happen to
edge of the principles or policy of
either party, are Democrats or lie-'
publicans according as they have
been thrown among the one or the
other.
Again, interest and convenience,
glance over Exchanges.
Apropos to the above, we will state that
we were on the point of laping by the
Vanderbilt Observer without oomment,
tjvlien our attention was arrested by a squib
Sheeted at the Reporter. We will not
if not the actual sources, are very| Srenroduce it, since that would be according
important influences in the forma-lit more attention than it really deserves,
tion of opinions. If a man sees that glut suffice it to say, that the sage amid the
his interests lie in a certain dircc.'Classic shades of Vanderbilt delivered
tion, or that this thing will be morel .^imself of the following owl like opinion,
convenient than that, he is veryjC;lr[ iat ,Reporter would be a much
likely to mould his opinions in or- fitter paper if published monthly instead
der to conduce to those ends. 1 () p wee kly. Now, we do not deny the pos-
Fhese are only a tew of the many pjtH we do say the editors of the
Observer are not competent to judge,
influences that give rise to our opiu
ions. Space forbids us to discuss
the subject further, but we cannot
dismiss it without remarking, after
the view we have taken, that such
opinions as these, so utterly unrea
sonable and so thoroughly without
foundation, stand out as a reproach
upon the age in which we live. It
is a deplorable fact that at the pre
sent time, when perfect freedom of
thought and action is the birth right
of people everywhere, and the mind
is bo longer fettered by the chains
of superstition or tyranny, that such
superficial and baseless opinions
should prevail so widely in our
midst. Let us hope that young
Americans will improve upon their [
fathers, and set au example for the
uidance of the world, by cultiva
sRce they publish a monthly and have
! failed to make a good journal of it. How
ever, it is possibly better than it would be
as a weekly.
The Virginia Uuiversity Magazine
comes to us this week full of interesting
matter. A crittique upon Edgar Allen
Poe is an excellent article, showing careful
study of the life and works of the most
weird and peculiar of our American pcets.
The Stevens Ind.cator is devoted greatly
to the discussion of some long, intiicate
mathematical demonstrations. Therefore,
it goes without saying that we do not
know whether it is good or not. We
think that it is, though.
Subscribe to the Atlanta Evening
j Journal, 10 cts. per week. Received
ting honest, just and intelligent in Athens 12 hours before the Con
opinions. Let the aim and purpose stitution. Those wishing to sub-
of our lives be, to search out truth scribe will hand names to W. H.
and bring error into light. If every p 0 p e
one should lay aside such motives as
those of self interest and aggrand
izement, and lend the labor of his
life to the cause of truth, the peace
of our laud would no longer be dis
YOUNG MAN
When you have once decided, once re
solved, once promised, suspense should
turbed by this never ceasing strife j cease, and the actionsshould be considered
between Capital and Labor, and
these shameful conflicts between
government and anarchy. Then, in
deed, “Truth crushed to earth shall
rise again,” and Error, bleeding from
a thousand wounds, will die at last
among her worshippers. L. L. K.
virtually done. Just here and now, decide
and promise you will patronize Skiff the
Jeweler and so it will be.
Grand Republic Cigars, Moore ifc
Elder.
