Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-15

the matter at issue Is one In which we
may make some advance. The truth
otherwise Is mere cruelty.
OF course, no one likes the truth, UNI
less it is favorable to ones pride. ones
aims. aspirations, hopes. dreams. BY
the truth was no man yet hurt, we are
told. in all solemnity; the hurt lies in
the spirit of man, the real man, or self,
the ego, the ].
The desire to take the opposite Of any
popularity held verdict is good indica-
ton in q man Of q desire to get at the
truth. Such a person jnstinctively sus-
poets the largely held opinion. He feels
that maybe the letter OF the law, rather
than the spirit, has gained the ascend
ency.
He resents the air OF superiority which
the holder of the popularity held opinion
takes unto himself by YerJ reason OF the
mass opinion.
The mob, he knows, Is not given such
praise on other matters: why should it
be bowed down to in the MISTER Of In
tellectual opinions? As a matter of fact,
he knows that one man may be right
and million wrong, and that time has
repeatedly proved 1t.
* 4
Therefore. the intelligent person who
believes in the rights Of the individual
land not all intelligent persons do) feels
that the greater the mass opinion, the
larger the necessity Cor lis advocates to
do something to support It besides APP
peal to the very fact Of It's widespread
character.
This latitude Of opinion may mean
nothing in itself, except that most men
follow the leader, with sheeplike per-
ststency. He who speaks against 1t
often does so for the sport Of the thing.
There is a real battle in this field.
Many of the grand fights Of history
have begun on the mental plane, and
thence spread to the physical. Men
who pride themselves on their brains
nevertheless often come to feel that
there Is. in the last analysis. but one
that Is with the fists or their equiva-
Tents
The sport Of crossing mental rapiers
Is known to every one, but it reaches its
peak when one OF the fencers taxes his
stand on the side of the unpopular. It
Is then only that one must think, both
quickly and deeply. The assault upon
him will be immediate and cau-cic He
must be prepared to feint and guard
with exceptional rapidity. while at the
same time pierce his adversary's guard
a. bile lew vantage points winch he
shows. He will show few, being bull
warhed by the gross opinion Of his
fellows.
The danger one runs, in taking the
opposite opinion, is to be called a cyric
A cynic, rs far as the popular definition
defines him, is any one who does not
agree with all the standard opinions of
ones friends, ones State, ones party,
ones country.
Question anything, and one becomes
q cynic with all the non-cynics. 1t is
amusing. Every man is a cynic at
times. There s nothing else to be-.
And many a person is cynical in his
own mind when he would not admit It
to the world for words, or fear Of what
words might do to him.
Let US add that our 1uestioner need
by no means Ee Quarrelsome person,
although sometimes he may take the
opposite side" Just for the fun Of the
thing. Debating societies know how
that is.
There always are enough people to
take the popular side Of any question.
Let us be glad for the man who dares
to stand on his own.