Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-04-04
4 Fools Argument.
,rn5 Advice Which viii Do Every
body Good.
rool Should Fail to Read and
Ponder.


ia ,viueH HIM Win your arg uLhthie'
Il Zoe YOU are angry and call him a fool.
"a - met proves nothing except that you
4 re the fool"
a vsTv few men, and scarcely any wom-
an be defeated in an argument
si,bout retorting "you're fool!' 1t may
III =. he snoken; but it is a hearts whis per.
s. r.. in fact, fools argument. To hate
& tsllow who attacks you with weapons is
s. .t1rsl; but to end up by hating the man
81 mself who attacks you with honest
&esnons of reason, logic, and honorably
&! ,ssed argument, is silly indeed.
81 There is nothing that shows or tests the
zoe gentleman more fully than how he
- himself toward his antagonist in
IN ,gpment It is the highest self control
Ia y 70 "feel mad II is the Hottest test
YIN ,our own sweetness or disposition; If
an can cherish kindly feelings toward
Il, man who honestly disagrees with you,
h. "A vbo takes no unfair advantage, IL
49, of misstatements, you are truly
(toble fellow.
81 Would reader of a book pound the
aver because he did not like it? That's
q ..lly sohooboy trick with the srithme-
I'm that floors him. The speaker OF an
Naniuion contrary TO yours should Ue, in
In personality a book. Do not pound
RI NJ Do not travel outside the argu.
III emf TO drag in some other incident in
A g mans life.
ri Il you are arguing about the price of
EtsUway stock, cOnfine yourself to that.
NVhst has this mans hen-coop to do with
a. question, or his weakness for fast
Mo-, or whom his daughter married?
EE may be very foolish man in other
Nhnss. but not necessarily because he
f3issyrees with you on the price of this
Hsock. The moment you refer to other
Hfings, you anger the man; you expose
I5ourself to the suspicion that you have
81 ached the end of your argument. He
Efetorts to your hen coop, or your neck tie
It- some fayorite weakness of yours. You
Ssmply part enemies.
When We disagree upon subject if we
Would only stick closely to the merits of
2ihe one ques.iOn-if we could only omit
E4l personal references, two -thirds of the
@fwyers would starve, for there would be
lid great shrinkage in litigation; divorces
ksouId lessen three-fourths; assaults and
Enurders would almost disappear. Our
Eteuble is that we are not well disciplined
IA mind; we fly off and sueer, you're
EDother' Heaven help us! What has
"a to do with the question: Let the
arguments do the lighting; it don't hurt
Ben 70 meet and grapple and knock the
Etap off each other. Ideas can come IN
EtOlisiOn, and no hearts are broken; but
E9hen the two mOrtas run against each
E9ther, death wounds are often given.
hi The reader protests that this is rot SO
"a Exactly; aud for that reason, it is
Easays scholarly ana the mark of scholar
HI habits of mind to keep ones self and
Etues opponent out of the contests, That
I'D what educators call abstraction. You
Etbsract your own personality; you deal
Et,h abstract ideas; you are simply a
80 clear, strong brain; your blood is
N& water; you are q thinker, and not a
Ehapping, sna7lipg animal. Animals can.
EnOi do this. Two dogs fight each other,
EE air only idea on contest is to injure,
Nh chew of an ear or lame a leg. But a
kHhllosopher does not wish TO ipjure his
EA agonlst; his hope is to enlighten him
Eahd do him good. When you get into an
EHgument, lis that your sole purpose?
Il IT, would feel suited if su opposed any
ERng else. Very well; but / boldly
So yon with malice if you begin to
af'fe to attack the man rather than his
EAgumsnt. / say that the very instant
&Rat you begin to hate or dislike the ~
Nv OF TO wish you could punch him"
III TO get iutli-d under your jacket, that
ELL moment you have ceased to be man
6g mat Is the dog-and cal feeling. That
IN the rising yulgarity of bar room fisti-
kF Ms That Is what leads to assaults and
IN afds-' Words then become things as
81 as blows. The heart Is bad. Th4
H pan who gives way is de5ased ten thou
w. times below a fool.
mi 10 see Intellectual gladiators exchaug.
EAg TRUSTS with shining steel, poised on
49, nature, each smiling yet resolute to
IN utmost, each keen eyed to fine loose
ace Ia the others battle harness, each
E4 pred with the kindest intent and love
~ ths truth, each the soul of honor and
2 sl-there i5 no more beautiful sight.
MI is lae finest show of intellect on earth.
HI 'atoFs have looked on q charmed sill
cs OF applauded with proudest acclaim
HI sympathy with each standard bearer
k urn Fair women have leaned out of
&s' e4hles TO wave the outset their ap
$f oval and honor the victors. How DIFF
E 'el. aii this from those base contentious
- men forget their dignity, descend
Es personalities, lose their temper, and
III! 'ae foundations for eternal hatreds.
IA 's' 90 into argument without the re-
M '7 70 Dotlce the personality of your
E fontnt, unless he Ceases TO act the
IN l.,5usn. Then expose him, but do not
III down TO his level.
M Always remember in denouncing
o.1dfeli that IL you 90 too far you ex-
HI sympathy for him. II is far better
III your audience feel their own indig
'9l against the fellow. An audience
IA 9s far more severe with their
III -sa'7 toward him than they will allow
VI 70 be- with your words. You can at
81 70 be tranquil when you have once
~ Tue poltroOn before them. They
IA MINK whips, and lay them on his
i = gs' angry in debate is to throw
-. 5o1r shield. Especially if your foe
hi ne temper. If you are abused let
Nh A'-s.e your faculties and wake you mp
In your resources; now your brain
IN BEST with red blood feeding it;
~ alfef is poison 20 your brain, and
4's drunk with it. Never pronounce
-ee IL debate; that Is the Judges
-. Never prophesy that Is no
q 6usluess RssoI,ya 70 olosa ,,i. h