The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-30

unless 1t has ripened into conviction. And idealized convictions have made the prophets and martrys and crises of the world. The we'll informed man nowadays Is said to be the man who can give us a numher of more or less inaccurate statistics about most sub jects, but statistics never make any permanent contributions to public opinion. though they are very produc- tive of campaign literature. You can
 prove anything with statistics and most frequently with the same statis- tics. There are few more unreliable men than the statisticans with figures to prove things. It Is well known fact that figures won't lie; and equally we'll known if less polite one as the other statements that liars will figure.
 Quantity of information is of little value. quality of thought Is of inf-
 nitely great value to the man who would contribute. to the enlightening of public opinion. '"The quality most useful and most valuable to society is the faculty forming the right judge
 ment; and this faculty can only be developed by the discipline which comes from methodical study" The process is long and demands intending
 patience We must remember that knowledge cannot be taken in by cart
 
 public, nor are there any soda foun- tains where you can get wisdom while you wait. Reason Is the highest ! quality of man. It is by reference to reason that opinions have ultimately to be judged, and reason is hard row Young men get your convictions Carly. and live them sanely, remembering that unless the reformer have tact, his way is about as hard as that of xx-u those opinions which you entertain and those which merely entertain you. This. is the difference between the reformer and the demagogue.
 Why do we never extend the glad hand to the opinionated man or greet him with tears in our voice. Is it not because he lacks tact or judgment or both. The earnest man of firm convic- | tions who knows when he has said | them can always get a hearing. On | the other hand I have little sympathy with the man who feels constrained | to publish his opinions. whatever they | may be. and absolutely none with the | man who will publish them no matter what their consequences may be. Use wisdom and prudence in those and in matters. yonng men, not for your own | interests. but for the other fellows. | At no point do the conflict between | duties and the conflict between Ideals l call for nicer adjustment than here. Those who would analyze the notion | would agree think in saying that the l cardinal clements in public opinion are l intelligence to discern and reassure the question at issue, sympathy to in- terpret and represent the interests of
 those concerned in 1t and courage to
 uphold the idea of principle which may
 be involved. No man in ignorance of the facts can form an opinion on cur
 rent questions. And no man can in-
 form himself of the facts unless he
 read regularly good newspaper. Un-
 fortunately however the newspaper
 is a great leveller of opinions, and foI
 the simple reason. I think, that man
 reads all it's pages in much the same
 way. If the paper have a reputation
 for reliable news reports the reader
 take the first page without question
 and turning over to the editorial page
 he unconsciously reads with as fis.as
 questioning there. The informed. in.
 telligent, sympathetic, courageous man
 who criticizes camly and protests
 vigorously where his best judgement
 dictates, has incaluable influence IT
 the common concerns of life of any
 community. They are the originators
 and educators and correctors of pub
 lie opinion. They are worthy of al
 honor. These are tue apostles of lib
 erty and the prophets of freedom, who
 teach nations as individuals that in.
 teI1eet and, enterprise alone are not
 adequate to the salvation of a people
 from the decay and death that have
 overtaken men and nations in the past
 The H1eA whJ cry to the way-farinl
 captain of industry or promoter oi
 peace that his intellect and enterprise
 are folly unless backed by ideals ant
 enthusiasm for them nourished in ar ennobling faith of human destiny
 The men who in the stir and stress
 of popular life and struggle cry from
 the housetops to the men of their gen,
 eration that if men and nations would
 secure length of days and immortality
 of power they must think more quie ,' ly and more deeply, worship more de
 voutly and more constantly; have re
 gards to the truths which lie below all controversies and inspire clashint enthusiasm, must dwell on truism
 without impatience and examine
 paradoxes without alarm must realiz
 always that we are a part of tn [ great community through which tn 3 Eternal has worked for ages ant have our share in the spiritual privi leges and solemn duties which belonj ) to all members of that community. . To contribute to public opinion an, to correct public opinion I nave dwel
 upon as civic duties imperative ol . every member of the community am Q to an unusual degree on the educate e because of his unusual facilities. Blu , the man who does not control publi f opinion in the long run Is the ma o who can control votes for it is c long fact of experience that the mo
 follows the ward leader as sheep fol
 lower their lader. Caryle Nwen say
 that it's the Knowing ones who rule The problem of pure practical polite |, is jl st the problem of preventing those who are only crunning an . crafty from ruling. We feel that W ' have a self government, but did an A one of us ever choose the candidat for whom we voted? No, our persona Il power is delegated to a group of mer
 of a political party. The candidate for whom we vote is chosen by gentle . men whom we have never met, som 0 of whom we should not care to meei = If you would get into the goVernmen D you must know this little coterie tha y does the business
 n In a democracy whether you hay !. good government or bad governmen = vou come to the polls at the beck an 0 call of a ring Without the rim a organfzation would be eimpossiblC V The. problem is to keep the ring clea . the ring in the ward. the ring i - the country. the ring in the district Il inc ring in the State clean! On 2, means of doing this believe to be f S holding up the career or practlcal poll
 tios as an inviting one to vigorou
 vounr men. men of the same fibre an
 stuff and consecration as are thos l' u,ho turn their backs on commercia success often to enter the ministry an e other humanitarian professions. Wh