The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-03
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
Why 1t Should ever be Made the Cause Of
Quarrel.

Why 1t Should ever be Made the Cause Of
sQuarrel.
When you think on the subject, it
seems truly remarkable that it has taken
the world so Ing to arrive at the con-
clusion that here is such thing as
honest differace of opinion.
In early ass-indeed, down to a very
recent perioo- and among all barbarians,
there was nfsuch thing as agreeing to
disagree" seems to have been taken
as an indiputable fact that if your
neighbor dill any thing in way which
seemed to y,u absurd or unreasonable,
he must hae done it to annoy you, and
the proper thing to do was to have a
fight over i. And as the neighbor had
the same hearty contempt of your Gus
toms, he WIS nothing 10th to engage in
combat.
The Romans had no words to express
their conempt for the Greeks because
they cured their hair and INDUCED in
the luxury of baths; although the Ro-
mans IL turn surpassed the Greeks in
these very practices.
The Persians, sunk in superstition,
detestel the Egyptians for worshiping
cats; tie Babylonians called the Romans
barbar ans, and the Jews regarded the
outside world as heathens because they
did no. follow their peculiar rites.
Coming down to modern times, the
English have scoffed at the French for
eating frogs, and the French have re-
torted that the English are coarse shop.
keepers.
The Italians think that the Germans
drink too much beer, and the Germans
wonder why the Italians eat maccaroni.
We can not understand why Moham-
tering a place of worship, while they
wonder why we think it necessary tC
uncover our heads. We shake hands
with another; Cinnamon shake theil
own hands; we kiss our dear friends
and another nation rub noses; we bury
our dead, other people cremate them.
Who is prepared to say which is right
and which is wrong? Is it not possible
that all may be right? Travel and OBJ
servation broaden the mind and it is
noticeable that great travellers are not
disposed to condemn practices which dc
not conform with their early training.
Schliemann, among the ruins of Troy
ate with the natives, and found much tC
commend in their habits. Stanley has
adapted himself to the fare and usuages
of the Africans, and does not seem to
pine for civilization.
This is a lesson that the world is slow
ly learning, in great as we'll as small
things. Climate and breeding create
different wants, and it is no longer nee
essary to kill man, or even be his
enemy because he does not agree with
you in politics, science or religion. II
takes some time for some people to real
ize this changed state of affairs. Boys
will wrangle and give each other the
lieover differences of opinion, and girls
have been known to VOW mot to speak
land keep the vow for years. over the
cut of gown or a school squabble.
The world is wiser than it was. 1t has
discovered that much more is gained by
suasiOn than coercion. The Mohamme
dan cry of ''the sword in one hand and
the Koran in the other" has been dem.
onstrated to be poor rule for mission
aries. Kindness and argument have
supplanted force and threats.
If only the young folks could be
brought to see that it is possible to differ
without disagreeing! We can not all
have the same tastes in food or clothing:
we can not all have the same features,
hair, complexion or carriage; nor can we
have the same likes and dislikes. But
there is always some one subject oE
which we can agree, be it ever so trivial
Let us find that subject and agree on
that; on other subjects let us reflect thai
there is much to be said on both Sides
and if we can not agree, let US ''agree to
DISAGREE "-GOlden DAVIS