Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-09-02
For the Journal.
0ecency.


Nix. Ep1roR / do not mean to have
controversy with one who deals so largely
in billingsgate rs "Vinaex." Expertness
in throwing filth is an accomplishment
never acquired, and it would be the veriest
folly to enter the lists with one who is so
familiar with all that appertains to the ba-
ser qualities of human natrue. shall
therefore make a few observations and leave
him to an intimate communion with his opn
heart.
That person who has such food of
iniquity on his tongue, ready to de6le all
within his reach, should quote Scripture to
sustain his position, indicates alrecklessness
belonging to few. But it has been said
that the devil can quote Scripture for his
purpose, and, perhaps, "Vindex" recognizes
the precedent. The passages he has quoted !,
however, do not breathe that spirit of ma
Lightly which pervades all that emanates
from his pen. am persuaded had he read
the whole of the 23d capter Of Matthew, he
never would have cited any of its contents
to justify slang and abuse for its conclu.
ding verses show q far different feeling from
that which rankles in the breast of Vinder,
For example, the 37th verse-s'O Jerusa-
lem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the pro-
phets, and stonest them which arc sent unto
thee; how often would have gathered thy
children together, even rs hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings, and ye would
not"
When Vindex, in the true spirit of Chris
tian feeling, can add such yearning and ten
der words to the close of his ebulitions
against rumsellers, then he may with some
propriety appeal to divine authority. Whyj
all that he has written is as destitute OF
that gentle meekuess belonging to Jesus Of
Nazareth rs an iceberg is of heat. And
that same st. Paul, whom he would fain
make US believe rs foul mouthed as himself,
cautioned his brethren, with regard to one
who thought differently from themselves, to
"count him not as an enemy, but adnonish
him as brothers,
My Bible may be dusty from want of use.
but what must we think of one who cites
"the meek and lowly jesus" "who, when
he was reviled, reviled not again. as au-
thority for loading his own brother with the
vilest epithets! 81 envy not that man. his
state of mind, who can apply the words
"that thing in human shape," to any de-
scendant of Adam. Finder is not pleased
with my views of honor; could not reas-
onably expect he would be; an elevated
idea Of honor would be sadly at variance
with the principles he has undertaken to
defend, and therefore he must give it Jes-
uitical latitude. ''Vindex" objects to my
using temperance as cloak; butt ,vsN use
it as cloak and Mieldi As such it has
guarded and kept me from the tempter' s
power from earliest youth. Can s'Vindex"
say as much? But l will not follow him
further, lest be lured into that polluted
sink of vituperation in which be reyels
with such careless abandon. A word of
parting advice: Let 'Vindex'' cultivate
the Christian virtues, list of which he
will find in I'd Peter, LIST chapter, 5th 9th
and 9Th verses, and leave all that is low and
groveling to the rumseiier, lest by practice he
place himself even beneath him in the scale
of humanity. MAINE LAW.