The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-03-20
Bad Character.

-cOmplmenleu eFCll poyo Jul just lneFIls
by the attentions Of those from whom we had
not solicited nor expected such expressions of
interest Coming into this community with
out stain on our character, without single
blemlsh on our past history, standing well in
the good opinion of the little world who knew
us, and feeling conscious OF no word or act,
that should lessen US in the opinions Of those
whose good will alone is worthy ola struggle
we have in a short time been subjected TO
charges which iftrue should thrust us from the
society of decent men, and yet which were
never dreamed of before we became a citizen
of Evansville. That these charges came from
men who were the most noted blackguards in
the community, seems TO be excellent evil
dence Of its peculiar morality, when even
such degraded beings are found laboring zeal
ously to rid it of its principal immortality, by
thrusting US out or at least exposing our vices
and criminality. But when body Of men,
embracing morality, wealth and influence,
feel themselves called upon TO rebuke our ed
itorial vices. we almost feel ourself villain,
although for the life ofus we can't tell why.
: 1t has been our privilege TO have control Of
some paper or another. almost without cessa-
ton, from the first year of our manhood. We
have written for several different communi-
ties, and been IN tile habit of corresponding
with the best papers in the country-but it
has been left for the morality of Evansville,
and we may say for the in1-morality of this
city, to reDuke our course as Editor on the
first part, and from the second class, to ques-
ton our virtue.
In editing city papers, in common with 9TH
er Editors, we have often made allusion to
those establishments at which liquor was ven
ded. On coming here not being aware of the
excessive Nervousness Of this course, and of
the doubly distilled morality of some of our
patrons, we very innocently alluded in two
cases to drinking holses in this city. We
even went so far as to say, thai there was Il
restaurant connected with the new house. 10
which there was side door or private en-
trance that Temperance men could avail
themselves of, who did not wish to go through
the liquor saloon. Forthwith we were ar
raigned before Temperance meeting-pla led
in false position before the pu >lic-and re-
ceived general thunder in a condensed form.
At the next TEMP erance meeting, allusion
was again made to US, and this tine by gen.
tleman who from his position in society, was
calculated to carry some influence. while the
first attack came from one entirely too big
oted publicly and insignificant privately. to
have any weight His remarks were calc'Ila-
ted to withdraw support from our paper, or TO
create the impression that this one faultishouId
thrust it from families where there were chill
dren, &c. Yetno one had the manly candor.
and neither speaker had shown us ordinary
polteness and gond filith by telling us Of
what they-conceived our errors privately, and
request US a change. They attacked us pub
licly, and before large assemblies of our fell
low-ciizens, and when we were not present
to defend ourself. The first speaker we gent
" gave, what he himself termed it at the
second meeting, "castigation, and well
merited one it was.
In alluding to the second, we declared our
self friendly to Temperance but rehuked
those over-zealous members OF the Order OF
Sons of Temperance, who by their conduct
injured their cause. This was intended d.
rectly for the speakers who had attacked us.
We said too that five were to make the Jour
nal an open advocate Of Temperance, our first
blow would be to "strke down those zeaots
whose ultra speeches and actions induce
enmity and disgrace their cause-and to strip
from the shoulders of certain Sons of Temper
ance the garb of hypocrisy, and expose them
in their true mental defcrmity to their honest
minded brethren" And we said too, we
might be compelled if attacked again. to dc
this-and if we did this. we advised certain
members to stand from under, or we would
g shower a catalogue of names upon their
heads, that may morally crack some of theiI
crowns" In the same article we said TEN
perance should always have fair play in the
Journal-that we liked Sons of Temperance
the better for being such, if honest in theil
views and conduct-that their interests should
not be trespassed upon, nor their opinions ev-
er rudely touched, in the Journal. All we
asked was Justice. Justice we have not had
We have been arraigned for this article, tried
we suppose, and fosnd guilty Of some great
moral crime, judging from the tone of letter
signed by a committee, which we have re-
ceived, and which was written by the last
speaker.
Both Divisions appointed committees to ask
oil US the names of those whom we insinuated
we knew to have broken their pledges. The
article was construed to be a charge against
he rofSs