Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
Correspondence of the Enquirer.
MuSCatine Ahead,

Nh. EDITOR This il fast age, and M,scatinc
from present appearances, viii be in the front rank.
The press yields mighty Influence, and when con-
Quoted by able and powerful men, it is irresistible
Muscanc, for editorial talent, is surely fur ah?ad aad
wi good luck will get safe out of the woods. Take
for instance. your neighbor of the Journal His
ticle on Law was most brilliant affair; it lays
Kent and Blackstone in the shade. After reading it,
yon turn from their l,rosy efforts with yawn. He
says, sin is as ssary to happiness rs health
Crime, then, being an essential ingredient of our
created nature, became necessary for civil tribunals
to create different grades of offences and penalties for
committing the same" Somebody has said that one
or two ideas are as many any gentleman originates
but there are three in heap and all entirely new for
anght know for who knew before that was written,
that sin was necessary to happiness andcrme was
an essential ingredient in orr nature, or that
civil tribunals created offences? let say after
this nothing new comes from Muscatine. You may
not wonder that lawyer should speak eloquenty up
on law but follow me to his article Higher law y:
He says lit Is the law that deposits the tiny dewdrop
upon the blade and plant" Another new idea =
How rejoiced the Union men will be at the announce
ment With what unbounded JOY the shades of Cal
houn and McDufe must look down upon the develop
ment OF such talent wonld suggest that the next
Memphis convention pass him vote Of thanks tor this
invaluable service Next, il you please, look at his
article on home, that dry, cold barren and uninter
csting subject See what a halo of interest he sur.
rounds it with, and how he envcns it with incidents.
Why, he makes it as interesting as dog-fght, and
much more harmless.
What bitter sarcasm, keen irony, and unanswerable
argument. With what whitening scorn he has dealt
them, (the frecsoers) blow that will forever settle
them, so far as this State Is concerned, and if they
were published in pamphlet FORM and generally dis
tributed they would settle the whole affair. How fiat
Gcrrit Smith. Garrison and Giddngs will feel when
thev see that they are utterly routed by Hawkeye,
won't they?
Then in the article upon the Crusaders the his
toran is seen how clearly he points out their utility
with what glowing eloquence he shows the advantage
they were to the arts and sciences. Talk about Ma
caulay, Prescott, Headly Abbott being historians
Nonsense they are dstanced the first heat right here
in Mnscatine.
Rut need partcuarize no further look at all his
articles perfect string ofntellectual wonders and
what Is more amazing, they come SO thick and fast
These prodges have visited us once week for some
months past adif thiscommunty doesnot reward such
powers of mind with high trust it will lie but anoth-
er instance Of the ingatitude Of republics. you
procure such genius to edit for you, Muscatne can
beat the world and the balance OF mankind. Boston
must look well TO her aurels they about to travel
| westward. q OBSERVER.
Why has such an attack as this been made
upon US? Now, most certainly we have
no objection to our articles being criticised,
even by SO harmless and unpretending an
| individual as Mr.. s:Obseryer., But we
cannot perceive how We are to be made
blamable for the wanton ignorance of an
illiterate critic, and be held answerable for
his shoit-sightcd bigotry, and self-con ceited
narrow.mindedness @
The individual that will thus unwarrant.
eddy attack person through the public
press, and conceal himself behind fcti.
tious signature, will never hesitate to play
the deadly assassin, and under the cover oil
night, plunge the dagger into the back Of
his friend. Mr.. "Observer," show yourself
Come out in your true colors and let the
public know whs and what you are. Throw
off that sneaking disguise and we wi II NEE
your sickening sycophancy; yet whenever
knowledge or no knowledge is the point Al
issue, We, the humblest of mortals, will b.
the the first to come forward and plead GU,
Ignorance.