Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-10-24

Some OF the Contradictions aud Exaggerations of
Politics.

We all remember how, during the excitement
through which the country has just passed. the ultra
Union papers for there were and are ultra Union
well as ultra dsunion papers-papers mean which
went for Union at all hazards, and under all posi-
bic or impossible circumstances, insisted as reason
for Union, and perhaps good reason, that the
try emnently prosperous in all its relations and
in ali its branches of business These ultra Union
papers belonged, in great measure, to the party
which favor protective tariff Now. mark the in
consistency of their After singing praises day
by day and week by week, to the prosperity of the
country, for Union purposes, we find them as soon
the issue is decided publishing horribly lugubri-
Gus pictures of the ruin and desolation which have
been wrought by the tariff of 40 The change in
their tone is marvelous-it is surprising. We do
not wish to question their sincerity, but have
notions about it. We find one of these Union and
prosperity articles copied into the Fayetteville OBJ
of the 10th inst from the Greenville S. c.,
'Southern Patriot" and headed Truth Rtly and
bravely spoken" How long will it be before this
laudaton be changed iRto weeping and wailing for
country ruined-upon paper. So much for some of
the contradictions. Now for some of the exaggera-
tions.
Along with other papers we published sometime
since little article from Hooper's Chambers Tri-
bune, wing paper to the effect that the southern
wings would not act with the North in favor of a
protective tariff The article good enough in it's
way, but had nothing very peculiar about it. We
gave it for what it worth, and so let it slide
thinking no more about it, until Monday Tues
day last we picked up the Wadesboro IN. c. Argus
and were surprised to find in it long article appa-
rently in to the little piece in question and
moreover, the article of the Argus headed "Gems
of Thought certainly an ambitious caption, and
one Of these gems deliberate assertion that
England exports to three dollars for every one
export to her. Now, if the writer had taken the
trouble to search the Scriptures or what is the
same thing to politician, the official documents, he
would have the ridiculous absurdity of such an
assertion On the Booth page of the official "Report
of the Commerce and Navigation of the United
States for the fiscal year ending June Both, 1850
he would have found the value of our exports to
Great Britain to have been SOS, 897 $780, and of
imports from that country to have been S72 rs 79l
showing but small balance against US, occasioned
by the immense imports for California. Apart from
this California trade the balance has always been in
our favor the reports of the Secretary of the Trea
sury for series of years will show.
The senior Editor of the Argus who is our bro
theT of course knew better than to have made such
a statement but we perceive that he from home,
and not responsible for it. We only notice it all
instance of the tone of exaggeraion and the in
accuracy of statement common among partizan news
papers. Such exaggeration is not confined entirely
to wing papers, but through all, and should be
reformed totally. If the press hopes to have per-
manent influence, it must be accurate in its state
ments and truthful in its tone. Truth is seldom in
extremes; nor can what is fact to-day be made false
tomorrow, by the exgencies of policy.