Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1897-12-10
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY .'NEMo. =

4 tnt1 Az llOtu dGtlNC
opposition. Given man who is I'M
willing to be convinced and you have
/ less OF an opponent in him than you
have in yourself in your careless
method of approaching him. In
fact, 1t sometimes seems as though
many good people hold to most ex-
cellent ideas, more to crafty fasir
sense OF pride at having ideas at all,
than to persuade others less enlight-
ened. At any rate there are many
who approach their fellows in such
harsh, unsympathetic ways that they
repel rather than win them. The
impression u subject makes depends
on the way it is presented: which is
true whether the one who is striving
to make a point is a moral teacher or
an irate bull. Parleying is difficult
when your victim is running away
from YOU as fast as his legs will carry
him.
1t IS told OF Benjamin Franklin
that he ascribed his extraordinary
powers OF persuasion to the fact that
his manner always showed respect for
the opinions of Others. Having Sc
cured his listener, he would gradually
lead up to the telling points by say
ing, Don't you Think" rather than
II think" He thus won by leading
his opponents Judgment onward to
the pointof convincing itself, What
ever truth there is In this--and / Inn
agine there is a great dealt is wor-
thy of even more than partial imita-
ton by every one who attempts to
mould the thoughts of others. But
the Difference we show to the opinions
of Others must be really sincere and
there is no reason why it should not
be, for not one OF us absorbs in one
small brain all vast truth--or We
shall fail to convince: for the snare
is set in vain in the sight OF any bird,
and the pit along line Of argument
is never to be digged in the sight Of
the victim.
Approach a man in Il way that be-
tokens a belief in your own superior
ity; or with manner that seems pat
roni2ing, and he is almost sure to re-
sentit. You have for the moment
forgotten the veneration due TO his
individuality. With both Of you,
the whole universe is centered on the
spot Of ground that each occupies,
and neither must forget the others
view. Respect the thought OF others;
believe In advance that every man
has ideas, or thinks he has, which
comes to the same thing; and you
will lind yourself moving steadily to-
ward the winning Of him, If he is less
firm In his facts and thought and
legic than you. 1t is true indeed
that successful attack on some one
else's thought is not brought about
merely by force of thought, for force
Is too often met with force, but By
careful preparation before suited to
the person attacked, much as gem
eral disposcs OF his troops differently
at every separate fort assaulted.
This ability to reinforce strength
with skill is one Of the secrets Of
power among leaders OF men.
! remember reading somewhere Of
a misguided enthusiast who looked
over fence and hailed young fell
low in such an alarming tone Of voice
that the youth inc0ntinently fled.
What did the stranger then do but
jump the fence and set off in pursuit!
After long chase he winded his
frightened fugitive, and then gave
him a tract, with some religious
advice between breaths. HisfUry
does not record the result; presumably
1T is better imagined than described:
but it is to be hoped that the record
ing angel used fitting leniency. Such
a well inteLtioned one-is he not com
mon apart altogether from tractsy
such one needs to follow the Confu-
clan advice which suggests that " In
archery we have something like the
way OF the superior man. When the
archer misses the center Of the target
he turns round and seeks the cause OF
his failure in himself"
In matters of religion and of poll
tics is it especially true that many of
us do more harm than good by argu-
ing and persuading. In the first
place we often forget that our oppo-
nent, however mistaken he may APP
pear to us, has in all probability fully
justified to himself his own line Of ac-
tion or belief This is true in rela-
| tion to the fanatical followers of the
oldest vagaries, as well as to deyout
believers in religion, pure and nnde-
filed. But forgetfulness of this fact
produces hates and distrusts and cru
elites immeasurable. In pro-
longed walking tour in Virginia