The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-11-27
Just Among Ourselves

Amid the turmoil of public and political doings
and sayings, it is wise thing to initiate Brer Fox
and LAY low" IL is easy to have strong preferences
without having clear reasons for them In most
worldly things that call for speech and action hui
man beings are less likely to be led by indisputable
truth than by the taste about which there is no
disputing. It is common in affairs where clear
certitude is not available to be ardent, nay to be
partisan One tends to give heart and hand TO this
vote, without giving much of the head to it.
Of course, we speak OF the ordinary folk whose
political information is gathered from those edu-
cational agencies which make our country great,
at least nosily interested in greatness newspa-
pers reviews, radio and the tired mans mentor,
TV. We do not speak of the politicians who have
their own plans and purposes we'll their own
formularies of speech, and kind of race apart
OF politicians activities. Bill Nye speaks with
more than humor in his fictional DIARY of John
Adams" He has Adams, contemplating entry into
political action set down the following note in his
diary. Il have never done anything in the states
mans line, but 1t does not look difficult to me. It
to that in public life is the result
of union of several great primary elements, to
wit: first, ability TO whoop in fecitouS manner;
second, promptness in improving the proper mo-
ment in which TO whoop; third, ready and correct
decision in the matter of which side to whoop on;
fourth ability TO cork up the whoop at the proper
moment and keep II in cool place till needed"
Certainly The whoopers have been at it of late,
whether fecitously not Is difficult TO Judge.
The plain citizen does we'll to keep his own whoop
corked up and preserved in a cool place until he
knows all the facts needed to give complete an
to that classic question, whats all the whoop-
ing about?"
The human mind is made for truth, and il can
never be satisfied without it, But there are wide
areas of human interest in which full truth is not
available In these areas intelligent opinion is the
best the mind have and it must serve. The
thing to remember is that opinion must be intel
ligent, that is, il must have good solid and prudent
reasons back of It, PartsanShip strong feeling self
interest personal and local loyalties can seldom be
honestly viewed as good and prudent reasons for
holding an opinion. Opinion is not intelligent by
reason Of these things
In matters political, honest statesmen are doing
the best they can Policy is general matter which
inevitably brings along with il much that is par
ticular and detailed And in these points of detail
there Is always the murk and haze of uncertainty.
leader may know his main objective clearly
enough, a traveller on foot may clearly know
the city town he wishes TO reach But paths TO the
objective like trails that lead through forest fen,
and plain, sometimes and criss-croSs,
and sometimes they wind blindly through mist and
fog. Mistakes inevitable.
When mistake has been made, it is surely better
to strive TO correct IT than TO waste time and energy
in whooping adversary against its perpetrator
a man "who did il purpose" The journey to the
goal is not furthered inch, but is merely de
layed, by indulging IN hot Vituperation leveled
against the guide that led the travellers astray.
This is time and energy lost and doubk lost if there be
some question as to whether the travellers have been
really led astray or significantly led astray.
Matters public and political are as we say, in the
field of opinion where the necessary thirst of the
mind for truth must be slaked by such waters as
at hand, and these are the mudded waters Of prob
ability, not the clear waters of gertrude.
II is ealamitiouS however to consider that be-
cause probability is the best thing the mind
achieve in many things, that il is the only thing
achievabe in everything There is wide field where
opinion is indeed the best the mind can attain But
there other in which gertrude is available
and in these mere opinion is not worth a straw
The man who must get along with what seems
the solidest opinion in the field of politics prac
teal policy, is surely not content to get along with
opinion in the field of mathematics. He does not
want the grocerS opinion the amount of the bill
TO be paid, He cares not hang what the grocer
thinks that subject. He wants the plain discern
ible, certitude that is available in the
The patient is willing to LET the experienced
physician treat him according to the latter's sup
posedly enlightened opinion; that's the best he can
do But the patient doesn't want the physcan's
opinion as to whether health is desirable or life
worth saving. Opinion has place where certitude
can be had
Now, there are millions of people. bemused
by the fact that opinion plays prominent part
in practical life, who adopt the conviction that
opinion is the best that can have about the
value and purpose of his everlasting soul. People
who hold with certainty that temporal life is worth
saving are in doubt about whether its eternal
issues worth bothering about. They notice that
lots of their seemingly estimable neighbors ignore
the matter of God religion and the hereafter. They
apprehend that the theory of indifference in this
case IS the popular opinion. And they adopt that
opinion. Now, this is the ultimate insanity.
A may not be able to know for sure what
political party has the best scheme for serving the
interests of the country But he has got TO be sure
what church is the one true church in which God
wants him TO be, and according to whose doctrines
God wants him to live. He can be sure. The thing
may take effort, and demand aeonizing sacrifice,
but man find certainty. And therefore opinion