St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-11-01
How Some Persons Act.

We would like to be able to say how
some persons think, but we cannot
Thinking necessarily implies and in.
wolves the occupation Of the mind in
meditation. BY such q process, ideas
get into tho mind and often result in
doing something suggested hy the men
tai operation. When therefore, Que il
so welded to an opinion, or a dngn,a.
| that no argument can be considered,
which If pondelesl, would change the
opinion already formed, We believe We
are Justified in saying he has abandoned
the exercise of thought.
This done, such al one, consonts 10
| wed error, remain ignorant aud to for
felt every right to recognition as a ra
tlonal creature. That man, said W.b-
ster, "who should commend himself for
never having altered his opinion, might
te praised for firmntss of purpose bu,
men would think Of him, either that be
was above all other morta:s or some
what beioc the most enlightened of
them. He who is uut wise enough to BE-.
always right, should ue wise enough, TO
Change his opinion when he finds j,
wrong. lhc consistency OF Il trul,
great man, is proved by his uniform at
tachment to truth and principles, and
ll's devotion to the better reason. Not |
10y obstinate attachment to first formed
notions.
Nhnever mas hot candor enough. for ,
sond cause, t" change Ills own opinious.
IS not sGfe authority to change the opln-
ions of ottie1S.'
We frequently hear men say they
never change their opinions on certain
subjects, and we quite as often find
them requiring Others to change theirs.
NO iorco OF argument can influence
them, though powerless to combat il:
no cogency Of reasoning cnnyiucc, be
cause they WILL not think. In every
'uci instance, mau wiIfulIy desccnd>
from the true dignity Of his nature, to
become the mere outward resemblance
IT the physical man. The creature
which cannot think is not iu the imag.
II It's nake1, aud the man that miU not
y unworthy his classification with the
genus.
The light Of Intelligence falls in vain
lpOn his undelstauding--tlle radiance
II history and of current facts. has no
Influence with him. but he exists and j,
'elIslies like Il terrapiu with no shield /
rom ceuSute, but his impeuetrablo iy- ,
"rauce and st"!id obstinacy. We /.
h'uk We are acquainted with a few ,
uch phenomena. They are generally (
ohsplcuous for airs of self -sufficieucy. (
peak Of learning as an ispls fatuu< :
nj or It's lovers, as nihcompoops. The II
reat and wise men Of every age have =
ved and died iu error. History tn |
rem ls but digest or, compendium of ;,
'!sthoods-and heresies, whilst the uni ii
erse of worlds is only HETEROGENEOUS Il
of chance and accidents. y
with them, science is delusion, and n
'lIslon device of cunning men A
hey believe nothing they cannot see, tt
'N '''' CIV hottiiIs- tuS-S nave not al
lady pre- judged. Such men speak of q
orals ami babi'le of principles, Just AZ !.
they had thought, and with the ef- + !,
ontery of parrot, prate with angry
'hemence about matters they would -,
1t learn, and do not understand. " :"
Tell them that Columbus did not start ~ "
his memorable voyage to discover :. -
ntlnent, and they assert that he did -
I'd from this conclusion they will DO, ~ ~
driven. 1t is sufficient that they be- ~ ~
We it. Such are some of the men that -.
q at present engaged in the effort to ~,
nvince the masses, that Washington ~
fersoD, Adams, Morris and over one ~:
ndred other men of great purity of oa
aracter, and Of lumin Gus intelIects,
'rc dullards, dolts and blockheads >"
10 did not understand the code of lat -
day morals, they have set up.