The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-06-24
BASIC OF SELF-RESlSTANCE
and Of SELF. CONTROL
Interesting Deductions On The Philosophy Of Non
Resistance Being Resistance Transferred From
The External Ego To The Internal Spirit
For The Achievement Of Sef-ControI.
o. E. Library Critic.

Let US. for diversion spend few
moments considering some of the
aspects of non-resistance.
Non-resistance is sometimes sup
posed to be the cardinal principle
of Christianity. Unto him that
smiteth thee on one cheek offer
also the other; and him that taketh
away thy cloak forbid not to take
thy coat Also These are the words
of the same man who drove the
merchants from the temple and up
set the tables of the money changers
and one may ask whether Christ in
tended His words to have the ex-
treme meaning which is given to
them by some of His followers.
Love your enemies" is beautiful
principle, and / believe right one
without exception, but this does not
of necessity imply allowing your
enemy to have his way with you
under all circumstances. 1t is some
times claimed there is an occult law
which works in favor of those who
do not resist aggression, but invaria-
bly, the time comes when this occult
law, if it exists. is disreearded, and
its believer acts just like any other
mamie loses his temper and hits
back. There is very good reason
for this, and it is found in our physio-
logical makeup. and in this make
up is also to be found the justifi-
cation for non-resistance.
OF course 1 am not talking of the
non-resistance which comes from
fear, and which is but a confession
of weakness. There is another kind
which means strength. You know
what q reflex action is. A sensory
impression conveyed along certain
nerves to central nervous system,
which elaborates and sends out
alone another set of nerves, CO.
ordinated system of impulses which
bear direct relation to the impress
ion received and is often of a pro-
tective nature. In fact, it was orig
inally wholly so, having to do with
protecting the organism against
injury or starvation. Take SIM
pie instance. You inadvertently
grasp piece of hot iron and are
burned. The reflex action, which
is due to an entirely different set of
nerves, causes your fingers to relax,
and you drop it; another set causes
you to give an exclamation of pain;
you really can hardly help yourself.
If a dog is hungry and sees a piece
of meat in a stall, impulses proceed
ing from his stomach sets in motion
certain muscles operating his jaws
and legs; he grasps the meat and
runs away with it. So far all is
pure mechanism, as truly so as if
you or the dog were machine op-
Grated by electric wires. In the
lower forms of life these refexes
operate with the certainty and reg
ularity of machine; you can count
on the result every time. But as
you advance in the scale of evolu-
ton. this remarkable thing happens
the reflex can be no longer counted
on to occur. While the ape or the
savage would invariably drop the
hot object, intelligent man would lie
influenced by his nature. If it were 9
lump of gold which he could have
by holding on. he might suffer q
severe burn before letting go. The
dog can not resist the impulse to
steal the meat, but by fear of punish
ment he may be made to do SO,
while most men for the same reason,
resist temptation, be they ever SO