New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-11-05
SATURDAY MORNING. Nov'R ), 1858.
A Personal EXPLANATION.

We have ascertained that, for our frankly
but inoffensively declared opinions against the
safety for this Union or the expediency for the
Cotton and Sugar growing South of annexing
Cuba to this country, fault has been found with
us first, by those who honestly differ from our
views of the whole matter; secondly, by those
who admit them to be right, but consider them
to be unpopular; and, thirdly, by those who
hold that man should have no opinions except
such ash is convenient and if possible profitable
to have
That the first sort should not like, even if
they respect, strong opinions, backed by weighty
reasons, on question of great Importance,
where they themselves have taken the other side,
ia but natural and we make no objection to it
as, on the other hand, they can make none to
our having and expressing our convictions.
This is q free country; and convictions of right,
boldly expressed and bravely acted on, made it
90. II it is to continue free country, men
must continue to form with care, ON their best
lights, honest convictions to speak them FORTH
on occasion, fearlessly; and to stand by them,
on all occasions manfully. This is the great
duty of all In performing it, we have but, of
course, to look that, as q freeman, we speak as
among freemen, and in setting forth our own
rlghtiul opinions, infringe not the equally right
ful ideas or even feelings Of others; that we
reason, as with equals and brothers. not hector
as with slaves or children that we use no I'M
fair arguments, fling no personalities, commit
no discourteses, employ no ISLANDERS, misrepre-
sent no man, resort to no unfair appeals to pre-
JUDGE or the passions; and, in short, as true
men, do our best to bring about among our
ieiiow-citzens those just and enlightened deei-
mons which are for the common good of all, and
not the false judgments which may be best for
our own personal ends. Now, we are conscious
that our conduct has offended, we are deter.
mined that 1t shall offend, in none of these par
Icuiars. Long since, in the heat Of youth yet
untaught the necessary charities Of public life.
We may have erred, we doubtless have erred.
but never knowingly, in some Of these things :.
but time and larger and more liberal acouaint.
ance With politics and politicians on their great
theatre have, we know, taught US better-a
Kinaher temper, soberer judgment; and has
improved (as it ought to do) both our head and
our heart. To our adyersaries in the ouestiop
OF wnich we now speak, we have, then, given
no Jus. cause 10 blame us. They have every
right to combat our arguments; they have none
to complain Of our conduct.
We turn, therefore, from them to the secon5
sort of those we have enumerated-those VIII,
think our opinions right, but think it wrong I,
avow them, even in that calm, moderate, an,
strictly argumentative form in which alone "
have spoken or ever shall speak Now, a wor
in reply to these gentlemen. We know and W
value both their friendly feelings and thei
judgment; out there are situations which thos
only can understand who have long stood i,
them there are, for him who worthily fills III,
position of Public Counsellor Of the Peon,e-
and that is our position-dutes the force an,
sanctity of which none but an honest and exnc
rieneed Editor can know or feel Such a ma,
one whose life, whose labor, whose abilhe,
whose whole aspirations are In his honorab
pursuit alone of giving to the public tyne il
formation, and his sincerest, best thoughts
knows that it is not for him, when he is to ascer
tain the merits Of an important question of tn
country's well-being, to inquire what is jus
then the prevailing, but what is the right, tn
good, and will finally be the triumphant opinion
that which men will at last thank him fol-
having upheld. On such questions, he will, il
order to decide ,chat he is TO sag, first find out
anhat he is to think, and will then proceed tC
say that. He will, in word, play the true
politician, not the demagogue, and seek moi
merely to please, to aole, to deceive but really
to serve the people. The words of others, uttered
in corners or from stumps, pass away with the
momentary attention which wheedled popular.
ity can command: his are uttered in a more
permanent form, TO a wider audience, to even
the most intelligent portion of the entire land
and perish not easily, for either honor or shame
The Press, then, thus conducted, has hicl,
mission than that of the ordinary politician
IT must be true to it and not pander to every