The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-09-01
I" he Said It."

He aid il. therefore it is 80" Such
Is the logic Of Incidence. and i. is 50
far older than the words which furnish
our saLlect The phrase ipse diy.t :
had is origin in the time of Pythago-
ra~. who taught philosophy a, Groton.
IN Italy. AID acquired great influence
over the people. so highly was he *
teemed for his wisdom, and such corfi
denee pl.ced ia MS judgment, that
when disputes arose in the community
the simple declaritiOu that pytliagoras
said thus or 10 was sufficient. and the
question was settled beyond all doubt
Thi. reference 10 Pythagoras illus,ra-
ties the proneness of man TO follow the
lead and submit without question or
reason - the opinions Of others
In civil life. this leadership is exen-
pliiied in the original. independent and
inventive few. The followers are the
mass Of imit.iors, dcpendants. aud
sluggards.
In all stages of life. and in all ranks
Of society. are to be found illustrations
OF this principle. In youth. bold,
active spirit rules his companions. He
is captain of his little band, who march
with shoulder sticks for guns, to the
inspiring strains Of noisy drum. He
IS the leader Of all games and the in
spirer of all disputes. and generally
rules with the tyranny Of a despot.
In pbilosophy.w find few great
leaders, like Pythagoras, Socrates and
Aristotle, who have founded schools.
each having his numerous retinue Of
followers and in more modern times
Bacon shines forth as the great discov-
erer Of new system Of reasoning. and
the founder OF IA new school of philoso
ply. which surpasses all others in the
Importance of Its practical results.
In the dominion of art, the same dis
position is manifest to follow and imi-
tate II master genius. In Italy, few
great painters and sculptors have won
renown, while in their train
have followed innumcrable imitators,
whose works fade into insignifcance
when compared with those Of the mas
tcrs. The name of Angelo. Raphael.
and Titan. will live in fame as long as
the world shall stand.
In religion. the tyranny Of leaders
and their blind followers have been
especially noticeable. In the Romish
Church. the ipse dirt of the Pope is
infallible. The true Catholic accepts
the dictates of his spiritual guide with
implicit confidence al attempt To rea-
sou Oh religious truths subjects him to
eXcommunication and perpetua. banish-
ment from the church of his fathers.
In Protestant Churches few use the
freedom of thought and speculation
there allowed. OF the present sects,
which have sprung from the teachings
of Luther. Calvin, Wesley and others.
how few disciples have adopted their
particular belief from a profound and
convection that tney nave
found the true faith. Have not the
majority taken their UNCONVENTIONAL
creed from reasons of convenience!
In the world Of fashion. we see this
truth particularly exemplified; the lead
ers Of fashion are autocrats. from whose
decision there is no appeal, and whose
sway is absolute and unquestioned.
They have but 10 issue their proclama.
tious. and the fashionable world falls
down and humbly yields its homage.
Dionysius and Gessler were gracious
masters " hen compared with the tyrant
vigorous obedience from his vassals as
fashion receives from her enslavcd sub
jects.
In these examples of this widely
pervaded principle Of human conduct.
it is not obedience Ia rules. or the fol
lowing Of preceedcnis. that we would
inveigh against. but the ignorant and
servilc following not inspired by actual
condition of life and duty.
We do not believe that every man
should &C, Independently OF every other.
for that theory, logically pursued, would
lesoA 10 anarchy and harbarism-and
the highest civilization is found where
ent. But 40 person should bc iEhuenc-
"a 10 particular course of action sim
ply because of the example or ipw dirit
of another
There are men, however. who, al
though they may not accomplish much
in the World themselves. yet by their
iiscontcnted spirits have set others TO
thinking, and thus led indirectly 10 the
attainment Of grand results Ii Is 10
the bold and independent thinkers,
men who have detied the SCOTS and
jeers of skeptics, that is due the noblest
achievements III the worlds history.
The great discoveries in science and art,
which have added 50 much 10 the hap
piness and prosperity of the human
race. were not the results or chance,
hu, the product of laboriouS, persistent
and independent thought
Important inventions were made 10y
men Of original minds, who were not
willing 10 leave the world as they found
il. but were determined 10 do some
thing for the improvement of man
kind
We must. then. while in the morning
Of life. think and act for ourselves. as
intelligent, reasoning and reasonable
beings. fulfilling. 81 far A. IN IT, lies,
the will and purpose Of our Crc1,or.