The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-10-17
THURSDAY, OCTOBER IL, 1912
A Way to Silence.

In textbook on the subject OF ar
gumentation, which was issued for the
first time some years ago, the author
makes the rather sweeping statement
that man is a creature which rarely
reasons. On first consideration of
the truth or falsity of such an asser-
ton, one is sorely prompted to doubt
the sanity of its author; but on sec
ond consideration, one is prompted to
believe precisely what he says
To reason about anything. to go
from cause to effect. to put two and
two together and measure out four
as product, to think thoughts
through to their Enthusiastically con-
illusions, is indeed a mental process
which is altogether too uncommon. AS
with the Patagonians. to think, for
most people. is to produce a season
of extreme droWsiness. What we
call reasoning is little more than
sense impressions, and these have very
little to do with our reasoning facul-
ties. To reason is to bring conscious
effort to bear upon some thought or
proposition under consideration, and it
necessarily involves the process of
reaching some definite conclusions
about that thought or proposition.
The truth of the statement of the
author referred to is emphasized al
most daily now particularly in the
discussion of political questions. We
are reminded in this connection of a
recent discussion of two men, one a
Progressive and the other a Republi-
can. The Progressive sought to con-
vince the other of what he believed
to be a fact, namely, that President
Taft had had a change Of front and
had lined himself up with great cor
porate interests. But when the Other
protested that he could not be convinc
ed of tile truth of this except he had
placed before him the best of good
proof, backed by the best of good evil
dence, the Progressive agitator grew
hotly indignant, and exclaimed, "Bosh
Everybody knows that to be self evi-
dent fact"
But, really, do they? And how
much of real evidence do you suppose
this Progressive enthusiast had amass-
ed to support his wild statements?
Probably no more than what he had
read in the editorial columns of the
Revision Evening Journal, an authori-
tN On political matters which, to very
many, has long since ceased to be an
authority.
A certain Professor Jones once said |
of his charming wife: My wife |
talks very glibly; and she talks most |
glibly of all when entirely unimpedei |
by facts" We wonder if some agita-
tors-Progressiye agitators, for in
stance-who give out the general i'm |
preston that they know their facts
we wonder if, like the Professors wife,
their glibness is not due to the reason I
he so naiyely assigns. Yes we Won
der, and wonder.
We have formed little habit, born
recently, and now softly nurtured, OF
treating such cases. When assailed |
by one of these political agitators--
by one who has more tongue than
sense-we calmly look into his flaming |
eyes and as calmly say: Your proof, /
sir, is what? If you have nothing
more than your own beliefs, and your
own hear-say evidence, let us discuss
last summers Italian band The !
habit in action. is most effective. 1t
is a way to silence. Try it on tue
next Mrs. Jones that bears down upon !
you with all her charming personality. !
And then telegraph us If it does not |
produce absolute silence.