The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-10-15
aa. lBUl53sIl sias7 sSEDN .'
THURSDAY, OCTOBER Is, 1910.
TO THE PEOPLE OF IOWA,

EaitOT. ..# s
/ y could not at 4 distance believe that tic
upper end of the world was so hollow as
find it. .TILLorsoN
Though the incon scnience may be mine
yet the reproach is his nor would cxchang.
my damage for his disgrace" ~ How'll.
We have been compelled on one OF
two previous occasions to obtrnde our per.
sonal grievances on the public with the
hope not only of vindica,ing our own
character but of rcsenling, in a becoming
manner, the insults offered to large anC
respectable portion Of the people of this
Territory. Whatever others may think
of it, we declare that it is painful thus
to bring ourself and our own trials before
the public. In speaking on this Sub.
.ject we feel no disposition to criminate
unnecessarily /: and none need make self.
application Of any statement we may
make unless they feel themselves to be
absolutely implicated. The transactions
which have developed themselves during
the past few days compel us to SPEAK
OUT, and in doing so we shall endeavor
10 clothe our language in such garb
that none may take exception to its want
of dignity or decorum. No bullying
no attempts to mu7=ic the treeaom Of
speech or Of the press--no threats from
those high in o6ice-shall hinder ns
from making such statement as every
one must see the circumstances ALSO.
lutely call for at our hands. A most
gross attempt has been made to deprive
Us of one Of those inalienable rights,
guaranteed to us by the Constitution I'M
der which we were born; and we should
be recreant to that Constituton--we
should be truant to duty were silence to
mark our course at such time as this.
Since our residence in this Territory
we have not ceased TO be a mark at which
has been hurled the shafts of set of men
whose recklessness is almost without a
parallel. Our reputation has been COM
plete football at which every one has been
invited to kick. Our character has been
held Up as a species of putrescence from
which all have been taught to turn away
with disgust. The whole vocabulary of
epilhelS has baen exhausted over and over
again Tor the purpose Of stirring up the
community against us. The unhoiiest
passions have been appealed to to make
US an adherence in the sight of our rel-
low men. No means-no devices have
been left un'ried to degrade us-stab af-
ter stab has been aimed at our interest, So
clal, moral, and pecuniary. Whatever
could be done to deprive us of all profess
siona merit, has been studiously tried,
and even our very physical organization
has been made theme Of misreprcsenta-
ton and ritficule.
And why all this? If our character
correspondent with their representations
if we were the insignificant. uninfucn,ia1
being they insist we are, why the neces.
slty of occupying so much of their time
in writing us down? Why array their
whole talents and force and influence
against us? Why compromit their off,
cial dignity in attempts to annihiate
one who in their professcd estimation ap.
pears SO infinitely below their level? We
think we know the reason. We take no
credit to ourself of possessing any power
we may have as an editor, because we be-
lieve that truth and the business of our
cause impart to US that power. But pow
er we have: and our opponents feel it;
and although it is, and has been, their set
tied policy TO deny it, still all their actions
show st to be their determination and
their arm 70 deprive us Of it. .s.~ f2feI
We have hitherto stood alone in this
Terrhory as an editor, in advocating the
cause Of the people, and although it de-
served a better-infnitely berter-still it
would have progressed had it possessed
NO advocate; but it could not have had owe
more devoted to their interests. Weha7e'
egIearored to identify onrself in the COM
mon cause Of tile people simply as an in
strument in carrying out their views, and
in their behalf we, can suffer over again,
ten fold, adj the reproaclr and contumeIy
that have been heaped upon us, if it will
in any measure promote their interests.
When we see official arrogance lifting
up its head and aiming, Absalom-Iike, to
steal away the hearts of the people, when
we see their sophisticated, attempts to en-
chain a fee people by the syren cry of
sDemoeracy,it is not ambition, it is not
selishness, 1t is not lack Of Democracy