The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-10-27
KEEP MIND OPEN FOR TRUTH.

The difference between the lnIolli-
gent and the uninteliigent is decided
largely by willingness to listen to that
which Is new, and gives at least a pa
tient hearing to the man who has
seen something that others have not
seen
We have discussed before with our
readers the importance OF keeping the
mind open, Of impressing upon chill
dren and young men the fact that the
brain IS nearest TO death and the end
Of its usefulness when it is no longer
open to receive new ideas
The picture on this page is intended
to illustrate the idea Of Importance OF
freedom from prejudice in a striking
and picturesque way
Upon the wall above others heads,
stands the man enthusiastic and far
seeing. He sees beyond the narrow
city, the narrow lives, the misery,
poverty, disappointment and the Ii
mited possibilities
He sees far OF farther city, bet
ter times, greater possibilities. And
he tells what he sees to those below
him. but only to be scoffed at, as
rule
Some laugh, some close their eyes,
others are angry
Nearly all go their way, refusing 10
believe that which they cannot
see can be possible.
From time to time the man ready
and able TO tell the truth appears
among US, but the dulIness Of mems
minds. the vanity Of their self-efici-
ency refuses the good news and delays
human progress
Napoleon could only give a few
minutes to Fulton. the dreamer"
with a fantastic story about a ship
that could 20 by steam and cross the
Channel in spite OF the wind II he
had given a few more minutes and a
little Open-minded belief, Napoleon
could have landed his army on the
shores Of England with FultOn's help
and history would have been written
In a different way
A modest man went to the great
convention Of steelmakers in England
They listened impatiently while he
told his story Of q new way to make
steel cheapIy- Then they ordered ev-
erything he had stricken from the re-
cords on the ground that they didn't
want their convention made Tidicu-
IOus
That man was Bessemer, who has
hundreds Of millions TO the worlds
wealth, and made possible the extern
Columbus was laughed at, and he
died in sorrOw-thOugh he gave one
half Of this world to civilization
And so it has gone through the ages
and so it goes today.
Men OF this age cannot repair the
mistakes Of the past They cannot
atone for the sufferings Of those per
secuted for righteousness sake" and
for the sake Of knowledge.
But we who are living today can
at least give a hearing to those that
tell US good news. We can refuse to
be like the blind and deaf Of the past,
ignoring the truth when put before
them
Do you realize that today more than
ever the man with a new idea for the
benefit Of others is treated with con-
tempt-eyen as an enemy Of society
You can do much among your
friends to overcome this tendency Of
the people TO reject the truth.
For instance, if a man expresses the
belief and hope that it is possible TO
make all OF the people Of this world
comfortable, prosperous and really
happy so long as they are willing to
wOTk-dO not scon at the idea.
Only a few centuries ago, the idea
that the world could get along with
out slaves was derided by the wisest
and greatest men. They declared that
a civilization without slavery was i'm
possible.
But those that tell you that poverty
and suffering are necessary are mis-
taken, as were those that declared
slavery to be a necessary. part Of hu-
man life
Do all that you can especially TO
destroy the ignorant idea that he who
wants to help the poor is necessarily
planning to hurt the rich
Nothing IS more stupid or depress-
ing than the childish ignorance Of
those who feel that you cannot help
the man below without hurting the
man above
As a matter Of fact. II you raise a
building or a society from its founda-
ton. you raise the roof as high as
you raise the lowest part OF the build
ing
In all the history Of the world It has
invariably happened that increased
comforts and prosperity for the poor
er classes have meant greater pros
perity for the prosperous class at the
top
You know that the men -EhO start
ed and carried through our American
revolution were denounced as the
2
called respectable" on Manhattan Is
land, were furiously indignant enc
mics OF the patriots, and loyal to King
George
They hated the idea Of a change Of
government. they lOathed the idea OF
q republic They believed and they
said. Whatever you do to help the
men that are poor must hurt US"
How little they dreamed what the
revolution would mean to this cOul-
Try.
How little they could see the enor-
nous fortunes that were to reward
industry here
How little those men living at q
time when q dollar a day was the
highest wages paid IN the United States
could have looked forward to the
comparatively good wages Of today.
Had you told them that the time
would come when printers would get
five dollars daily. brickiayers four or
I'VE dollars. and carpenters four or
I'VE dollars, they would have declared
that such wages must mean absolute
ruin for the prosperous classes.
As a matter Of fact, we know now
that the prosperity OF those that sue
coed in a big way exceeds Infinitely in
proportion the prosperitYof- those that
draw the improved Eages.
Keep your mind OpenS to new truths