The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-03
INDEPENDENCE OF OPINION.

INDEPENDENCE OF OPINION.
If there is one Inconsistency greater
than another it is the claim that some
men make to independence of opinion and
at the same time are intOlerant towards
others in their enjoyment of the same
independence of opinion. The most ar
rogant man is the least tolerant of in
dependence of opinion in others He is so
dogmatic that he has no patience with
anyone who differs with him. This kind
of man is not amenable to argument or
reason He is as fixed as the granite
hills, and it makes no difference with him;
he is equally fixed in erroneous opinions
as he is in correct opinions. Such men
may be very good citizens, but they i'm
pair and diminish their ability for use
fulness by an intOlerable arrogance that
attributes all the evils to which flesh is
heir to those who differ with them. No
matter how other men may have cooper
ated with them for general good on which
their hearts were set, if these very men
who were useful to them at one time hap
pen finally to differ with them on some
subject, their arrogance of the sole right
to independent opinions leads them to
ostracize all others differing with them
on any subject.
The tyranny Of this arrogance is felt
in private and social life, but it is oftcner
felt by newspapers. No matter how
much a newspaper has done for a com
munity no matter how much it has con-
tributed by its efforts and influence to
great public enterprises that might have
fallen through but for its persistent ell
deavor, the moment it differs with these
arrogant opinionistS and sole potcntates
of the right of independence of opinion,
they hurl their anathcma' maranatha
against the newspaper that assumes to
enjoy the same right of independence of
opinion that is exercised by these gen
tlemen. The newspaper may have res
cued them from obscurity and made them
what they are, if it differs with them in
opinion at any time. these obligations are
forgotten and they would like to tear it
down if they could. But, fortunately.
this class of men are very limited in any
community The fact is that the inspira-
ton of such men originates in self aud
ends in self 1t is impossible for them
TO see anything but a selfish motive in
anyone else, simply because their glasses
reflect only their own selfshness. If such
men dominated any community, they
would form the most tyranous oligarchy
of misrule and erroneous opinion. The
very idea of a republican form of govern
ment would lose its vitality and all indie
pendence of opinion be destroyed.
The tendency of improved education is
largely to liberality of sentiment and in
diligence in the exercise of independent
opinion without reference to the rule of
such an oligarchy. The very fact of Il
character for independence of opinion
makes every man who holds to it and en-
joys it useful ally in some other con-
test of opinions when opinions agree. 1t
is fortunate that the number of men who
would prescribe newspaper for the ex-
preston of Independent opinion is limit
ed, for such men are of little benefit to
any community. The larger and more
ihltlllSSul luOuiIHl luul recognizes the
usefulness of a newspaper even if it
sometimes differs with half the commit
nifty, is the kind of thought and repre-
sents the kind of men who are valuable
to public enterprise.
There are a number of gentlemen who
differ with The Statesman on the iinan-
cial question, but they are liberal enough
TO acknowledge the general usefulness of
The Statesman and are too broad to think
of prescribing it in business way ON ac-
count of this honest difference. There
are, however, Il few whose opinions can
not be assailed with impunity, however
courteous the argument may be. The
fewer of such men in any community
the better for it. There are also few
so blinded by self interest and the prcju-
dice engendered by self against anything
that pricks their bubble, that the strong.
er the argument against them the more
angry and intolerant they become
some of whom would not have been
known but for the very newspaper they
seek to prescribe. Society generally is
organized on higher plane and is domi-
mated by more liberal thought and toler-
ance. A man is not worth cent who
has no opinions of his own and who fol-