? Doubtless. But are you sure first,
that you think what you choose, or only what someone else chooses for
you? Are you sure that you make up your own mind before you speak,
or let someone else make it up for you? Your speech may be free
enough, my good friend; and Heaven forbid that it should be anything
else: but are your thoughts free likewise? Are you sure that,
though you may hate bigotry in others, you are not somewhat of a
bigot yourself? That you do not look at only one side of a question,
and that the one which pleases you? That you do not take up your
opinions at second hand, from some book or some newspaper, which
after all only reflects your own feelings, your own opinions? You
should ask yourselves that question, seriously and often: "Are my
thoughts really free?" No one values more highly than I do the
advantage of a free press. But you must remember always that a
newspaper editor, however honest or able, is no more infallible than
the Pope; that he may, just as you may, only see one side of a
question, while any question is sure to have two sides, or perhaps
three or four; and if you only see the side which suits you, day
after day, month after month, you must needs become bigoted to it.
Your thoughts must needs run in one groove. They cannot (as Mr.
Matthew Arnold would say) "play freely round" a question; and look it
all over, boldly, patiently, rationally, charitably.

And I tell you that if you, or I, or any man, want to let our
thoughts play freely round questions, and so escape from the tendency
to become bigoted and narrow-minded which there is in every human
being, then we must acquire something of that inductive habit of mind
which the study of Natural Science gives. It is, after all, as
Professor Huxley says, only common sense well regulated. But then it
is well regulated; and how precious it is, if you can but get it.
The art of seeing, the art of knowing what you see; the art of
comparing, of perceiving true likenesses and true differences, and so
of classifying and arranging what you see: the art of connecting
facts together in your own mind in chains of cause and effect, and
that accurately, patiently, calmly, without prejudice, vanity, or
temper--this is what is wanted for true freedom of mind. But
accuracy, patience, freedom from prejudice, carelessness for all
except the truth, whatever the truth may be--are not these the
virtues of