Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-11 00:00:00

been a man possessed of the smallest modicum of
common sense, or even decency, he would have
desisted from the use of language which his
brother Guardians had, by their unreserved
expressions of disapprobation, pronounced un-
truthful and offensive. But no ; he assumes a
new character, and he becomes the Poor-Law
Gladiator of the West Derby Union. He doffs his
hat, as it were, into the pugilistic ring, and dares
us to meet him in a physical or moral contest.

The worthy Guardian will be happy to learn
that respect, not only for ourselves, but the law,
forbids us to accept the challenge to mortal
combat. In respecting the law, we despise the
bully who knows when he makes his challenge
that it will not be accepted, and that, like a
certain species of the animal kingdom, he can
and does crow loudest on his own dunghill.

But Mr. SHAW asks us to meet him in a
moral contest. Now, that is a challenge we are
disposed to accept. Mr. SHAW'S morality must
be very lightly estimated, when we take into
account his continued attacks upon DR. NEVINS,
and particularly when the motives which induced
those attacks are taken into consideration. Let
us understand what he means by being a "moral
coward." True morality does not recognise such
a principle as cowardice. There is nothing
in Mr. SHAW'S conduct throughout this
lengthened dispute which could induce any sane
man, woman, or child to say that the principles
of morality moved him to act as he has done.
Now, if a feeling of vanity and self-sufficiency
goaded him on to conduct a series of attacks on
Dr. NEVINS, it follows incontrovertibly that his
conduct is regulated by principles diametrically
opposed to morality, and that revenge, which is
selfish and devilish, has been the moving prin-
ciple of all the attacks which have been made.
We leave him for the present to digest this small
portion of moral metaphysics. When he has
mastered it, he will, in the homoeopathic style,
get another dose ; and we trust, by taking them
frequently, he will be cured of that mental and
moral disease under which he labours—iordinate
vanity, and a desire to ride roughshod over the
ninth commandment.

For the present, we have said enough respecting
Mr. SHAW, and his unfounded attack upon the
NORTHERN TIMES. We are not the hireling of
any party. Had we desired to desecrate
our mission we could have gained friends, and
earned subsidies which less principled journals
have pocketed. Principles, not party, have
been our professional creed throughout ; and we
defy the Badger-General of the West Derby
Union to point to a single act of our public
career to controvert the statement. With these
few remarks, we dismiss him and his unfounded
and ungentlemanly assertions.
As to the matter itself, we are glad that the
vote of Wednesday last has finally settled this
unseemly dispute. The West Derby Guardians,
by their vote, have done justice to Dr. NEVINS.
They have shown that Mr. SkrAw has adopted
a course which was inconsistent with the
character of a true Englishman. and that it had
nothing but sheer and unmitigated, but at the
same time, unmerited, persecution in view. We
trust that what has already taken place will
warn the Guardians of the West Derby Union,
and particularly this Hector of physical and moral
courage, to be more cautious in future. From
the first, we believed that Dr. NEVINS had no
desire to annoy or offend ; and if he erred, it
was in respect of judgment, not of inclination.
Enough has taken place to convince the rate-
payers that troublesome brawlers, conceited,
tyrannical, and ambitious public officials, like
Mr.SaAw, are most detrimental in such an office
as that of Poor-Law Guardian ; and the sooner
he is relieved from the discharge of the duties
appertaining thereto, the better will it be for
the Union at large, and his constituents in
particular.