Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-12
SIXTEEN PAGES
SUNDAY, MARCH -, 1899.
-MANY MEN OF MANY MINDS
THE vIRcrN1AN-P1Lor, claiming

THE VIRCINIAN- PILOT, claiming
no infallibility. is liable to error; but
. 1T does claim an earnest desire TO be
fright in all things, and TO teach men
: so, If they need such teaching; and it
Honestly, carefully and studiously seeks
: to avoid error reach the truth and tell
%1t So much it must claim. or retire
Sfrom publication,-fully impressed with
Sthe conviction that devotion 10 the
right and true, diligence in their dis
: covery, and unwavering fidelity In their
\ declaration and support are the only
I reasons that justify adequately the eX-
y 1stencc OF public journal that pre-
sumes to express opinions upon men
- and things. Whether THE VIRGIL
NIAN-PILOT is what it thinks it Is,
what IL believes it ought To be- and
what it claims to be. is for its judlcious
readers to adjudgc: but we feel tina,
all our readers disagree with us as
they may in other things, Will concur
In concedlng TO us a Jealous desire for
that general welfare which, founded in
the right and the truth, Is for the
surest and most permanent benefit OF
everybody, rich or poor. wise or ig-
norant, good, bad and indimcrcnt,-as
Gods bounties and blessings. of gen
eral character. are for everyone, With
out discrimination on any account.
Yet THE VIRGINIAN-pILOT would
address all it's readers individually and
confdentially, one by one, if 1t could;
not because it would deceive any, or
teach one what it would not another
No. But for the fuller effect gained
by the mutual concentration of address
and attention, ana by the opportunity
it would afford TO adapt the same truth
TO the different mental, moral and cir
cumstantial conditions OF every reader,
as far as possible. There is only right
or truth in anything or everything;
but there are manifold ways of stating.
or presenting it, as well as various mo-
tives TO be justly appealed to, at least
eecondarly. in its behalf.
AS, for instance, murder is wrong,
primarily because 1t Is the most iniu-
rious breach of trust one can commit
against another. in violation OF the
common bond of mutual protection,
help and confidence entered into ut the
formation of human society. But It is
forbidden by God, expressly; by the
laws of man; it is punished by electro
cution, hanging, beheading, garrotIng,
shooting, or Imprisonment for life; it
is cruel and barbarous; it brings re-
morse to any enlightened moral sense
1T deprves the family of a husband,
father and providcr; it destroys n citi-
zen; it sets an evil example that puts
everyone in jeopardy, drives away the
sense of safety and brings in ha-
raising apprehension and distrust; and
so on through all the reasons against
homicide, laying stress, however on
those that are calculated chiefly 10
convince each one, in turn that the
crime is not only a moral offence, but
G. blunder and error of Judgment.
Not only do motives to be appealed
TO vary with the person, but the method
of appeal, TO be most effective, must
vary with the person addressed; for
that which is self-evdent in its per-
spicuity to one. may be call Greek" to
another, and logical process "as
strong as proof of Holy Writ to A.,
may be q mere puzzle to b., or but
jErgon TO c., stumbling block to D.,
and to r., foolishness. Moods, too,
varyan. all men, mentally and morally:
ana what tosday may be potential ex-
- 60 - - i