Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-18
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1927.
OrFIcE OF THE DEMocRATIc PRKss,
philadelphia, December 6, 1897. )
49,, ,-,yr nyYnrIH
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
" has been the fortune Of the Subscriber, in
the exercise Of his rights as citizen, and IN
.he performance Of his duties, as the owner oil
a free and independent press, TO encounter, al
different periods, AN unusually malignant hos
tility. Some Of those TO whom he has stood
politically opposed, have eudeavoured 10 over.
. whelm him with ca!amnious ialsehoods, oasely
devised for the purpose Of destroying his char
acter; and pro2agated, with zeaf, anu an IN
dus,ry. which, If directed TO q worthy end
would deserve all praise. From the bitterness
of spiri, manifested in these virulent assaults,
and the eager anxiety with which they were
resumed, at each re turn Of ardent political con-
test; s from The aviGity with which one ser oil
persons have taken up in succession the mean
devices, abandoned by another, he might have
been led 10 forp-an exaggerated estimate OF ms
own influence, 1kk81 of his press, on the puo>
H4mind. I'D this estimate have been
at all reduced by the discovery, long since
made, that his political usefulness has, 1t is be-
Iieved. in no instance been impaired, nor the
value Of his exerlions lessened, by these mean
attempts to inHict upon him, unmerited and
malignant personal injury. Tic has always Ia
ken his side, in every great question thai mas
arisen in this State, or the United States, Tor
the last twenty-five years, and having taken IL.
Often 10 the NANTES: injury OF his private IN
terest, but always upon clear and conscientious
grounds. he has been able TO support 1t, win
all his strength, and he trusts with becoming
zeal, unawed by menaces, and nei'her deferred
nor diver 81 from his course by caivmnious
persecution.
In his career of public service, il has never
been his practice 10 lose time in examining
whether the blows aimed at himself might not
have inflicted wound. He has regarded him
self as Invulhcrable.
His friends, however, have not always been
satisfied with the course he was thus inclined
70 pursue. Tley, at times, claimed from HIM,
as duty TO himself and, in their opinion, a ,du-
" he owed to the cause he had embraced and
was supporting, nor 10 submit 10 wrong, but 10
employ the ample means he had in his power TO
renel The at,rocious SANDERS forged against him.
Among the caiuunies circulated, with view
TO prejudice the citizens OF this commonwealth,
in regard 10 the Subscriber, was one which aim>
ed to induce the belief that he had baseiy sac
ri6ced the life Of the Rev. Mr.. O'Coigley, IN
order to save his own; at the time when they
were both arrested and tried; together with
Arthur O'Conaor and to Others, IN England
for high treason, in The year 1898.
The story, as printed and circulated many
wears ago, was as follows
lhat "a paper lOuUu III S'S@< SO'N PO' ~
WAS the fact upon which the Rev Mr.. O'Coig-
lev was convicted" "The paper which was
really an en-, husiastic act Of Dr. Cross6eld had
been given to Binns, and by him put into his
prea, Goa, pocket for the great coat be ,onged
70 Binns. When thc officers entered the room,
MIR O'Connor and Mr.. O'Coigley had taken
n private apartment, Binns and the others
were standing with their backs to the FIRE, and
were ip,errova,ed as TO whom The coat belong
cd and each denied that the coat belonged
10 HIM; Binns among the rest, whose coat It
was. Upon this simple inciden; O'Coigiey
was executed, thr Gun of June, 1898. Buns, to
whom the coat and paper belonged, was &C
ouitted." "The manner in which 1t came to
he thus identified with the unfortunate o.
Coioley. was thus stated, BY one Of the parties
Mr. O'Coigley was in delicate state OF
health, and as they we're travelling to Margale
a shower came on, he borrowed the Goa; from
Bmns; and wore il till they entered the tavern,
whers he hung up the coat "Dr. CroSsh'id
had no scuuain' ance with the Irish clergy,
man." (O'Coigley)
The evidence, and the only evidence to sup
port this story, was forged letter, o; which all
accom-: will presently be given, which was
published as genuine letter OF the unior'u-
nate MIR. O'Coig!ey.
MS lutpOStutes w shS SyS VI 'HN
was so clumsy, and carried upon its face such
evident proofs, not merely Of fa'sehood and
improbability. but even Of absolute impossible
ily. that he was always disposed TO treat it"ith
entire and indignant contempt; and, strong In
the consciousness Of his integrity, to trust To The
discernment Of his feliow-ci,izens for finally do
inc Justice to him and his secret aeeasers. His
friends, however, aware that the fabricated tale
,yopld fall upon many an ear unacqulDted with
an. facts. and on some predisposcd, by political
animosity to give ii a ready hearing, insisted
upon his doing himself iastise, BY proving the
entire falsi,y OF The vile charge. In compliance
with their wishes, he accordingly comPhed'
So, .n,bentic documents, equally accessible
he NAV remark, TO his slanderous accusers as to
himself. and published, in a pamphlet, in the
wear isi7, body of evidence which he will
venture to say no man of calm and unprecedented
auderstanding can read, without perfect con-
s;c,,on that the charge had not even colour
Of foundation, but was against all the evidence
,adduced.