Independence of Thought.
By S. S. Times
IN order to be truly independent in opinion and in action, a man must hear arguments, or must have counsel, in addition to his own unaided knowledge of any question awaiting decision. The very idea of independence includes the thought of one who decides between conflicting motives or inducements. The man who knows of only one way of looking at a matter must go in that direction—if he goes at all. There is no choice for him. That is not being independent. But the man who knows all that can be said on both sides of a question, and then acts on his maturer judgment in the premises, is the independent man. It is a want of independence that prompts a man to shun counsel when he has a responsibility of thought and action.—S. S. Times.