, 1882-12-29
Independence and Sincerity.

The POtD1S, or Portland, oregon,
contains sensible article from which
We take the following:
Decision is not obstinacy. tits the
result OF thoughtful analysis of facts
and their relationships; it is the pro-
duct OF careful calculation. 1t is
often the salvation of great schemes
that some single mind has this quail
ity. Men Of conviction are usually
safe men for the reason that it is only
the superficial calculator of chances
that has no fixed conviction in the
end. A legitimate conviction is not
matter of choice, for the reason
that men cannot believe as they may
choose to believe, and a genuine de-
cision is nothing more than a thor
Ough conviction of the facts i'll the
ease. TO thoroughly decide ques
ton is not therefore to follow the line
0f our preference or choice but to
follow the line of evidence in the
case.
This quality is largely lacking
among men. Especially is this true
among the young men Of the coun-
try. Many can be found who are
obstinate and self-willed enough, and
who will argue eloquently about what
they do not believe, but it is compar-
atiyely rare that young man will
even attempt TO tell you what he does
believe. The age is one of negativ-
ism. 1t is an age of fault-fnding
with the theories and systems of 9th
ar brains; one Of destruction.
Men everywhere are free to tell they
DO not believe thus and SO; it is a
confession Of emptiness. They are
drifting. Too careless or Indifferent
TO think, if they ever give utterance
10 a positive truth it is but the echo
of some other thinker, and they can
utter it but as the machine can pro
duce sounds.
1t is u great curse. Politically the
country is without leaders for this
reason. Politicians cannot afford to
be- men of conviction. They must go
with the current for this means pre-
ftrment and position. A politician
who has the pluck to decide for him
self and act upon his convictions is
not needed because not pliable
enough to be adaptive; and thus it
comes to pass that in every communi-
ty the men of decided conviction and
tirmness Of character are not in poll
tics. If such man gets a position
Of trust it is invariably the result Of
some uncomfortable contingency. Be-
cause the political demand is for pill
able characters the supply continues.
The scum comes to the surface and
flows into office Young men throw
away all fxe1 convictions as SO much
luggage and enter the race of life
like an oyster.
The press has not escaped. To be
the echo of popular taste, is to secure
financial success. The man who dares
to stand against the popular tide be-
cause he is right and the tide is wrong
must go under The men who hurrah
over the struggle and congratulate
the decided man on his "pluck" usu-
ally send letters of congratuation
without their names, and are not at
home when he makes an assignment.
In short, the age is one gmnd game
Of tickle You tickle me and I'll
tickle You" The temperance man
cannot afford to have decided conyic
tions on the subject for some Of his
best customers are brewers. The
Juror must not be hard ON the prison
or because the prisoner happens to
know little transaction which has
not yet been before the jury. The
preacher must modify his statement
somewhat because necessary to CON
ciIiate a portion OF his congregation
thot pays large pew rents.
While all this is true we are so CON
stituted that we secretly admire a
man Of decided convictions, but it is
IN theory only, that he is extolled. So
cir,y loves him--mainly for the rea
sOl that he helps to sustain its repu
taiiou without cost, and Gs an orna-
mvlt is not troublesome. Such men,
except whore their wealth or some
accident brings thcm TO the surface,
are not leaders. They stand 10y the
Iways.dc; OF struggle in obscure pla-