Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-05
PLAIN SPEAKING.

There are many pleasant things In
this world that have, as it were, pain
ful side to them, SO that while from
one point OF view they appear to be
every thing that is delightful, yet from
another they revolt and disgust us. 1t
all depends upon the way that We look
at them, upon the side from which we
approach them.
Often the same thing may appear ex-
tremely pleasant to one person aud
exceedingly painful to another; there
fore many discussions and differences of
opinion arise. 1t is the old story of
the gold and silver shield over again; a
most hopeless quarrel, for while both
parties are right both are wrong, and
thus there is not the slightest proba-
bility that either will ever be convinced
IF the true state OF the case.
One of these doubtful pleasures, that
many people consider veritable pleas
ure, is that of plain speaking. But
although they may enjoy IT we can
scarcely imagine that those to whom
their plain speaking is addressed find
much pleasure in it. To them it fire.
quently causes much annoyance, if not
actual pain, for plain speaking unfor-
tunately deals with dlsagreeabie mat
ters, and tells people things that are
neither agreeable nor gratifying to hear.
1t IS strange that this should be so,
surely there must be sometimes an
agreeable truth, pleasant fact, which
might be plainly spoken to the comfort
and encouragement of some shy and
sensitive soul. But it would seem that
this is not the case, and that although
pleasant facts do exist and agreeable
truths from time to time cross our
path, there is some unwritten law
against their utterance which compels
US to keep them 10 ourselves, or at
least never to mention them to those
whom they most concern, and who
would take the deepest interest in
them. 1t is the unpleasant facts, the
disagreeable truths, that are plainly
spoken to all whom they may concern,
md the plain speaking of which ap-
pears to be moral obligation that few
people have the courage or self-donial
% disregard. 1t is strange what trou-
ole conscientious men and women often
lake to cause pain and modification to
4 fellow creature-of course from the
best and highest motives! If they
would only take one hllf the pains to
world would be a far happier place
than it is.
A great deal is said about plain
speaking between friends, but we are
inclined to think that when plain
speaking begins friendship usually
ceases. 1t dies q violent death, and
the only verdict an impartial jury cam
return will be one of wilful murder
against the plain spoken friend who
has killed it. The fact of the friend
ship should make the offence against
good manners all the worse and instead
Of jusiifying the offe nder, condemn him.
Moreover, the very fact of friendship
with the intimate knowledge that it en-
tails sh uld seal our lips. Because in
the confidence of friendship we have
been permitted to gaze on the weak
places IN a mans srmor, because he
has shown US just where to stab him
most fatally, is that any reason for
striking? Is it not rather reason for
holding back our hand? Surely, in all
honor, yesl For this reason, we assert
that while plain speaking in most cases
ls bad, plain speaking between friends
Is specially to be deprecated. 1t can
only be looked upon as breach of
good faith. an aet of treachery of the
blackest and basest description.
While plain speaking, as a rule, is to
be avoided, three are of course occa-
sions when it may be desirable and
even necessary TO speak plainly, occa-
lions when not to do so would be the
act of a coward or a knave. Should
such an occasion arise we should do
our best to meet it quietly and firmly,
speaking plainly and, if possible, once
for all, for there is but little force in
multitude of words. The matters that
necessitate plain Speaking are best
avoided when once they have been
spoken of, and should never be spoken
Of at all unless the speaker is fully
convinced that it is the best thing to
10, and that he is the right person to
do 1t, Plain speaking from any other
motive than an honest sense OF duty,
and a conscientious desire to do right,
is q mistake, and one that often leads
10 serious consequences. We should
always remember that the unc4led for
assertion of unpleasant facts, however
agreeable to minds of certain class, is
one that is likely to give rise to much
and general discomfort.