Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-06-14

lraorulhary, TO ma the senior editor OF the
Illinois Republican gravely recommending
others to remember The Scotch coat of arms
hand crashing a thistle" No doubt he regrets
his own rejection of the admontions of this
celebrated motto, which he, so smartly, intro
duces for the benefit of others.
Distinguished for the versatility of his OPT
Mons, selected for the purpose of writing down
all opposition to convention, and vain of his
powers, he seems to have supposed that the
| friends of freedom would have submitted to
his gssconade, delmnciatons, and abuse, with
all the tameness and humility of the poor slaves,
whom his employers are so anxious to intro
duce into this state.
Finding, however, his gasconade despsed
his wanton attacks upon the ministers of reli-
| glon repelled his attempts to intimidate those
pious characters derided; his unfounded in
situations against us, exposed to scorn and
| contempt; his fond hopes of crushingu us, with
dash or two of his very classic pen, complete
ly disappointed; and smarting with the stings
| of all these humiliating overthrows-it is, in
deed, not extraordinary, that he should have
thought of " a haao crashing thistle" But tit
is "truly laughable," that he should have been
the first to have thus indicated before all his
employers, who have calculated SO highly upon
him) the pain he suffers, from having himself
made that imprudent experiment.
The netting, however, which he has receiv-
ed, we suppose, must have been too severe
and "irritating" for concealment; and hence,
may have originated the disposition, which he
has manifested, to induce the public to consider
all that has passed. as the mere "greenroom
rehearsal of a play" But, lest we should not be
equally willing to regard the anti-republican
doctrines in relation to the preachers, which
he has advocated, and his unjust imputations
of us, 4" a .farcs," and ourselves as part of the
favorite, though hitherto unsuccessful, scheme
ofintilnidaton. For this purpose, he has been
at some pains to let us know Every awkwardly
to be sure) that he has been thinking of the
"screwing of courage to the sticking place."
and tells U.s. with appalling signifcancy, "that
he cannot consent to notice us in PAPER 1var -
putting the two last words in awful italics as
we suppose, to intimate to the public, and
give us the hint, of his stronger prediction
for zrar" of different kind. This, we the
more readily understand to be his object, from
his chivarous determination "to hunt" and
"and break a lance .vith, better game - and
from the "honor" he anticipates, by the dou-
BILE triumphs of the bold hunter, and vslorous
knight Grant, over this same " better game"
We are happy to learn that we are not to be
the first victim of this mighty Nimrod, and
fame-seekng Don Quixotte. He thinks he
can acquire "some honor" in a conflict with
others, but none from engaging with us. And
we are ready to admit, that no man could be
more excusable in trying to acquire it, BY
some means or other for we may take upon
us to assert, that he needs it as much,
and has hitherto acquired as little of it, as
ourselves, at least.
We should baye been better pleased, and it
would have been somewhat more reputable to
himself, if his determination not "to notice us
in paper war;" bad been taken before he had
"disgorged upon us so much of his vulgarity
| and abuse" 1t might have had the appear
ance of being voluntary, if ii had been adopt
ed before his attacks had been repealed.
There is, now, under the circumstances of the
| case, reason to consider it the result of CO.
ercion-an idea that must be very abhorrent to
one, who would arrogate to himself superb
ority over his betters. 1t is to be hoped, that
he will hereafter endeavor to profit by the sa-
cred lesson which teaches that, he that ex-
alteth himself shall be abased," and which is
SO perfectly exemplifed in his case. His at
tacks upon others, as well las ourselves, having
produced nothing but the castigation and con-
tempt which they merited, he has but little
encouragement to persevere in them. His
promised forbearance, therefore, is no other
wise meritorious, than as that, by retiring
from contest Of his own seeking, in which
he could expect nothing but defeat, morthca-
ton, and disgrace, he shews that he still re-
tains some sense Of shame, and thereby fur
nishes slight hope of his possible amend
ment hereafter. His attacks have been equal
ly wicked, and silly; and though we should
not be very sanguine in the hope of his alb
staining from them in future, from his own
sense of moral rectitude, and his promise pub
licly given, yet, we do fatter ourselves that