The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-03-07
POLITICAL STATUS.

The other day the writer received a
letter from a very warm personal
friend from which the following ex-
tract is taken: II don't know where to
place you. You are generally regarded
as Republican, but occasionally some
almost orthodox Populist articles APP
pear in The TRIBUNE, and then, again,
you criticise them roundly. Would
you mind informing personal friend
just what your political status is2"
The trouble with our friend is that his
views of life are too one sided. He has
not done much towards cultivating
what is known as a judicial mind; he
can't turn a subject over and look at
both sides of 1t, and after giving weight
to all the argument arrive at satisfac-
tory convictions. The world is full of
people like this personal friend of ours.
They form convictions first and after
wards ransack their brains for testi
mony to prove them correct. And
whenever they encounter a fact that
runs counter to their preconceived no.
tions, 1t hurts them and they try to
evade it or fling 1t ont of the way.
Now If they would take up those awk.
ward facts and give them respectful
consideration and treats them as facts
deserve to be treated, their views would
be brOadened and they would form the
habit of searching for truth and re-
joice when they found it. A good rule
to follow is this: Always look up the
other side of the case first. Find out
the enemy'S stronghold and do not I'M
derestimate his prowess; then examine
your own forces and ascertain who has
the best of it. Hear all you can of the
case before pronOuncing Judgment, but
when you have fairly satisfied your
mind stick to it until you receive some
new and positive light which is suif-
Gent to change it, then change it with
out the slightest hesitancy or compunc.
tion. 1t is this alone that makes men
of positive convictions without bigotry
-reCeptiVeness without vacillation. |
There is no more disgrace in changing
your mind than changing your linen
provided you follow the same rule; that |
is, changing the old and worn out and
foul for the new and clean and whole
some. The thing we want in this
world Is the truth. TO The TRIBUNE
it makes no difference where it comes
from, it is entertained, respected and
If Populism contain
truth, to that extent we are a POpulist;
If Democracy contain truth to that
extent we are Democrat; to the ex-
tent that Republicanism upholds truth,
we are Republican, wherein it builds
upon lie, we are not q Republican.
That is our political status. At the
present moment it seems to us that the
truth in Republicanism outweighs the
truth in any and all other political par
lies, but this does not close our eyes to
It's defects nor blind us to that which is
in others Occupying such
4 position, we are enabled to view pass,
ng events with degree of equanimity
hat is, in these uncertain times, com.
'orting to the soul; we are enabled to
pursue the even tenor of our way,
the truth according to the
light we have, quite regardless of whose
TX Is ground or whose wheel gets water.
We imagine there are hundreds of
rood Republicans in this state whose
political status is identically the same
IS ours only they are too discreet to ex.
'ose their hearts best promptings to
he worlds cruel jibes.