The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-08-07
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
HABITS AND PREJUDlCEs DIS.
CUssED AT LENGTH.
The Philosopher Calls Upon History
20 Sustain sis Deductions.

he was a bundle Of prejudices. II is
fair 10 say that his habits outlivo his
prejudices. Mine have, know. My
order of life, my daily routine, my
food and clothing, my time 10 60 TO
bed and to rise in the morning hold
me faster than they did thirty years
ago. Habit comes from the Latin word
''hobeo," 10 hold-to hold fast.
can't hoe or chop lefl-hnnded. Un-
consciously / dress and undress tho
same way every time and always put on
my left shoe hrst. Whom my good
friend, Major Foute, lost his right arm
in battle he was young and soon learn
cd 10 write with his left hand. II 1
were 10 lose mine now I do not believe
would ever learn to use my left. 1
I am too old and the habit has held me
too long. II is hard TO teach an old
dog new tricks Brutes are subject TO
the same force. / had an old mare
who contracted habit of letting the
bars down to get into another field,
and she would let them down 10 get
out of q good pasture INTO a poor one
But feel sure that I have got over
some Of my preiudices. Daniel Web
ster told his people they had conquer
ed everything but their preiudices
Nothing but old age and reflection
will conquer them. They are hard to
give up, for most of them are born
with rs. Our religion and supersti-
ton and political faith, as o general
rule, are inherited Like father like
son, like mother like daughter. II the
old man shakes a piece Of silver coin
e. the new moon or makes a cross
mark in the road when he turns to go
back, the son will do il, too. If the
mother will not begin a garment on
Friday the daughter will not. And so
it is with our religion. / am Pres
byterian because my parents we're. 1
could have just as easily been q Bap-
fist if they had been. Or 1 could
have been a Methodist or an Episco-
palian. 1t does not shock me to sey
so now, and hope it does not shock
anybody else. Sectarianism abounds
in prejudice inherited more than &C.
quired from rational methods. One
Christian faith is about as good as an
other if it suits the Christian. I would
not proselyte any of them if / could.
would not disturb the peace Of q
Methodist family by seeking to draw
away a single member of it to my
church. / like my church not because
believe it TO be the best, but from
long familiarity with its mode of wor-
ship. feel more at home there. The
Presbyterian habit has got hold Of me
just like the Methodist habit has got
hold of Father Wikle. In fact, I be-
lieve a better service could be made up
by calling ont the best thingsin all the
churches.
For instance, the Methodist and
Episcopal communion service is more
solemn and impressive than ours, and
so is kneeling and bowling in prayer.
The Episcopal church has too much
rising up and sitting down-the other
churches have too little. would like
to see the Litany adopted in all the
churches and hear every child join in
the responses.
But Of all preiudices the strongest
and most unreasonable are of politi-
cal nature. Political intolerance is
not tempered or toned down by Chris
tian charity. Bitter partizans may
appear to be friendly, but ut heart are
enemies. When prominent one dies
his political foes thank God for that
much. Those who covet the Offices
will use all kinds of hypocrisy to gel
them. What makes the matter &C
ridiculous is the absolute ignorance OIL
the masses of these partisans concern.
ing the principles of their party
When David Bennett Hill straighteneG
up and said, II am democrat !" hif
utterance was echoed from a million
throats all over this broad land
What did he meanP I am sure dc
not know 1t has been nearly fifty
years since l cast my first vote, and II
was for a democrat. But there were
no such issues then. The great ques
ton was whether the federal govern.
ment should make appropriations fol
internal improvements or not. Up tC
that time no rivers had been cleaned
out and no postoffces or public build
ings built in the interior cities. Blu
now every muddy creek and every two
horse town must have an appropria.
ton. Free trade was once an issue,
but it is not now. Tariff reform and
protection have been occasional issues
for fifty years and more, but some
times the parties compromise on Incl
dental or accidental protection. The
republicans claim to be for protection
and Mr.. Mckinley championed bill
through that did protect his party
friends and left out those who wer,
not, He took off the duty on manga
nese and ruined the best industry WI
| had IN fhis socson A onvrvopxy Abo