Propositions of Policy
Notice that the other proposition—Missionaries should not be sent to China—is not concerned with a fact at all. It deals with something which should or should not be done. It deals with future conduct. It depends upon the value of the results to be secured. It looks to the future. It deals with some principle of action. It is a question of expediency or policy.
It induces argument to show that one method is the best or not the best. Propositions of expediency or policy are those which confront all of us at every step in life. Which college shall a boy attend? What kind of work shall a woman enter? How large shall taxes be next year? Which candidate shall we elect? How shall we better the city government? How shall I invest my money? What kind of automobile shall I buy? What kind of will shall I make?
"It depends upon the value of the results to be secured."
The answers to all such questions make propositions of expediency or policy upon which arguments are being composed and delivered every day.
In choosing propositions for argument avoid,
1, those which are obviously truth;
2, those in which some ambiguous word or term covers the truth;
3, those in which the truth or error is practically impossible of proof;
4, those involving more than one main issue;
5, those which do not interest the audience.