Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-01-14
9.PI.!a.DIApOyAo
EpwARDsvlLLE. JANUARY IA, 1926.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A editors Of newspapers have, no
merely place them on an equality with
their less privileged llow-cilaeDs-bu
undoubted ability to examine, to cri,i
else, to praise or 10 abuse this in
strument in such manner as they in theil
superior wisdom may think fit. Were
we TO say nothing upon it, we might be
considered as waiving--nay, perhaps, as
concedng-our prerosstive; or, what
would be still more insuhferable, as ac-
knowledglng our incapacity for the IN
deriak.ng. Now we would make known
TO our readers that we were no sooner
invested with the insignia of editorship
than we were initiated in the grand mys.
teries, and imbc ed-miraculously we
suspect, for it is uncomfortable to US how
clse-with all knowledge, and all wis.,
dom, and all critical acumen in all the
pleni,ude With which our brethren of the
qniIl and type have and exercise the same
by virtue OF the said editorial Office.
Having thus subsfantiated Gin the ap-
proved editorial style, by our own die.
tnm) our full and perfect right and CON-
pleie capacity to analyse, to approve, or
10 condemn the state paper with which
we have headed this article, we think we
may venture to pass it by with barely
remark or two, and turn our attention to
something, which, emanating from sour
ces equally exalted with ourselves, must,
OF course, be vastly more important, and
more worthy our notice.
The readers of the Spectator have
bad an opportunity of seeing and judg-
ing for themselves of the message oil Mr..
Adams. We know not that we should
have though, it necessary even to say
that we consider it an important and in
teres,ng document, and worthy, as we
have no doubtit has received, most Sc.
rious and attentive perusal IF we had
not read some strangely vindictive ami
madversions on it in few papers which
seek every occasion to attack and Willy
the administration. And yet, we are sur
prised at ourselves Cor wondering at the
folly and malice displayed by these de-
termined opposers of Mr.. Adams " righl
or wrong" But we will give our read.
ers specimen or two.
The Richmond Enquirer, after pre-
missing tina, the editor "took up the Pre-.
sident's message, with conscientious
desire to do him justic c-even with
cenciliatory feelings towards himseli, -
sets out with most lamentable ou,cry,
because, forsooth, the President has not
corfned himself throughout the whole
message, to the plainness of style which
tina, editor sees fl to approve; has not,
in short, been able, when treating OF
scie ntific matters, to RESTRAIN his rhel-
orical pep," as that editor elsewhere
terms it, entirely, from the use Of Ian.
guage appropriate to The subjects Now
is not this most humbling confession
that The editor was extremely limited in
the choice Of objects for his attacks. He
csnfesses that about twoMirds Of the
message was unambitious in its style
end unpretending in its doctrines" Tha
is, while Mr.. Adams was speaking Q
subjects strictly toltical, he used tn,
simple, yet digni6ed language which il
adapted to them: and when, he recon
mended the adoption Of measures for TIT
advancement Of science and the difusio,
pF knowledge, he became somewhat ami
hated, and wrote in the style which