Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-04-28
BELIEFS.

Ii seems plain 10 Us tnat every uout snouiu
have some convictions as to what is true,
or false, in all matters affecting either
moral or political action, and that every
body should make personal study Of these
matters and find out what he believes,
There is such a thing as truth, or right.
There is a right side to most things on
which people differ, and the opposite side
to this is the wrong side, and it is the duty
of every person-and it is his privilege
to discover the right, or wrong, and to dis
cover it for himself. This every man can
do, for if he makes the most Of his oppor-
tunity, however limited it may be, he will
have discharged his duty.
1t is important that every man should be-
Iieve that which is true and adhere to that
which is right. The next best thing is to
believe that which he thinks to be true and
to adhere to that which he believes to be
right, but it is dangerous for an honest,
sincere man to believe what is not, In itself,
true, or to advocate what is not really
right. The cause Of error finds its most
potent advocates and apostles, not in in
sincere and dishonest men, but IN the
earnest and true men who have been per
suaded to become its defenders and pro-
moters.
We should, therefore, investigate as to
the foundation of our beliefs and opinions
not so much by finding out other peo-
ple's beliefs, as by investigating first prin-
eiples ourselves. If man is Christian,
he has the Old and New Testaments as the
basis Of his belief, and there is within the
reach of all intelligent persons either books
or persons able TO explain the meanings of
passages relating to disputed points. Hap
PLY, on all essential points the meaning of
Scripture is plain; therefore, on these
points there is no excuse for fatal or even
hurtful misunderstanding.
The same is true, in general way, as to
political economy or party politics. We go
wrong because we take our political beliefs
by inheritance or absorption, and do not
think-mueh less investigate. We look
OF our side of questions or issues and ac-
c.pt all evidence that favorS our side, Civ
ing very little attention to that which is
given by our opponents. Yet, 1t is un-
doubtedly true that there is both right side
and wrong side in politics; yet it is also
true that no one psrty is always right, or al
ways wrong, on all questions.
The honest, true man will be most solic-
itous, in either politics or religion, to pick
out that which is false or wrong In his own
party and to condemn it, and to do what
he can to bring his own party on to
ground which he thinks to be right. Within
the party he has power for good, but il
he is in accord with the general sentiment
Of his party and differs with it only In GER
tain respects, he parts with all his power in
leaving it for a new party, in which he can
gain no footing until he has earned it, and
IL that party is in Itself uninfueDtiaI, he Is
Indeed weak and absolutely powerless, and
By his own act.
1t is important and essential to true man
hood that individuals should think and in
vestigate. He who takes his opinions at
secondhand: who is satisfied with having
them made to order, to be taken upon call,
is always weak man. and 1t is not safe to
trast him or his class of men in any important
emergency. The strong man in any commu-
nifty is the man who has strong convictions
and believes something SO firmly and cour-
ageously that he Is willing to stand by it
to fl sht for it, and, if necessary, to die for
il. OF such true stuff as this have great
and true men and heroes been made in all
the ages.