Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-12
AN OPEN MIND.

While it is very desirable that every
man should have "A fixed set of prin-
cipuos upon which to regulate his
conduct, it is not desirable that his
mind should he so fossilized as to be
unable to recognize a truth when it
does not agree with his preconceived
notions. There is wide difference
between a mind so fastened to GER
tain rules that he cannot see any truth
that does not conform TO his preju-
dices and man who intclllgently
clings to principle for principles sake
and not as castiron method Of pro-
cedure. Without settled priciples a
mans convictions would be like a reed
blown by the wind-one day inclined
in one direction and the next day in
an opposite turn. He il is who is
blown about every wind of argument.
caught in every eddy OF faddism. un-
certain and unreliable at all times as
to the course of reasoning which he
will follow under any given crcum-
stances
ON the other hand, we have seen
many who were so tied up with what
they conceived to be settled principles
that they could not see beyond the
narrow limits set by their own intel
ligence. Within that small radius they
were reliable and upright. but Of nee
essity uncharitable and impatient Of
those who would adopt any other plan
of reasoning. We call them narrow
minded Sometimes their narrowness
consists of an ingrowng moral anX-
icty. and of such are made bigots and
prosecutors Sometimes their limit
of vision is the result of lack of in
formation. They have built concm-
sions upon incomplete or erroneous
premises and have arrived at the point
where newer or more correct informa-
ton is not welcome. That "a little
! learning is a dangerous thing" is
amply proven by the thousands Of
people who have built for themselves
upon the slenderest of foundations a
complete system OF political economy,
of religious faith and of industrial
rectitude. The ranks OF the agitators
are not recruited from the really we'll
ant. but upon those who have learned
enough to see wrongs they have no
logical idea how to right, as a conse-
quence they demand a destruction Of
the errors without provision for better
things in their place.
The common error is that we for
get that, while principles are perman-
ent and dependable things, unchang-
ing as the hills, the altering surround
ings and circumstances Of life make il
necessary that from time to time we
conceive new methods of putting those
| principles into practice-new applica-
tions of old truth, and new uses for
old methods. While truth never
changing conditions must Of necessity
vary in method and form. We should
not desert the old principles, but we
should search for the methods which
will make those principles a living,
active force in shaping the conduct OF
the present generation. And here IL
where the fossilized fall down in their
mental process, They would cling to
old methods in the belief that are
fostering eternal principles. yet the
spirit and intent of those principles
may easily be lost sight OF In slaviish
devotion TO precedent. Prejudice is
not so often the fruit OF mental in
ertia as It Is of a mistaken devotion
TO the form of things while ignoring
the spirit and intent