Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.