Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-20
NO. 81.

Enough has been said upon the charge OF
being ''poor," and now permit me to refer
one moment to the charge OF "sowing dis
sonsion." l submit to you in oil candor
and honesty, citizens, Of Muscatine, il in
those two communications of "O's,' you
can find one syllable which tends in the
least degree towards ssowing dssension''
among you. But after being censured for
my poverty could not reasonably expect
any other usage from the hands of the gen.
tleman. IL those communications contain
nught of falsehood, why don't 0Pro Bono
Publico, expose that falsity /? Why has be
labored with so much energy and zeal to
denounce and defame 60" personally, while
with creditable sagacity he steers clear of
every point go" made? Is that the way
to refute error and falsehood !? Does he
expect the people to gulp him down, argu-
ments God save the mark y and oil with
out investigating the matter 2?
Mr.. "Pro Bono Publico' has also charged
me with being "hypocrite." Now would
not censure him for using such language
towards me, because it would be out Of
place, for rs he saysI am assstranger,' hay.
ing been here but as'few months; and OF
course it is expected that if @straager" 10
denounced and condemned by any one, it
will be by him who Processes to be boiler and
purcr than another. IS "immoral as the
gentleman seems pleased to call me, yet
was taught by her who instructed Inc in my
first lessons of youth, to always respects
ssstranger" for that was s'holy name." i
take, then, that sscruel word as no offence
for had not been ssstranger' such an as
sersion would never have been coupled with
my name. Still, feel grieved that my friend
should consider it proper to use so unjust,
ungenerous and ulmanly an epithet concerns
ing me, even though | soas guilty of those
other crimes Of having no "wife' and being
a "stranger.' 90
Again, ssPro Bono Publico'' has charged
me with being ..immoral.' This was the
"unkindest cut Of ALL Yet after having
been ridiculed for being "poor," "wifeless'
and "stranger,o | was quite. prepared TO
receive every description of denunciation
that so moral and tosaithy a man as "Pro
Bono Publico" could make use OF. make
no pretensions as regards "morality -
only 60 on in the seven tenor of my way"
seeking to imjure no one, and trying to do to-
Others a would wish to be done by. II in an
unguarded moment err in my dealings
with my fellow, it is but evidence that am
human and placing confidence in the char
ity Of mankind, and knowing that none Of
us are perfect, l always feel as though the
=
in toose communications have acted an
s'immoral' part, trust the people of this
city will pardon me, for it was certainly
unintentional and done thro 'gh ignorance
Of the proper construction Of the code Of
ethics.
Now, Messrs. Editors, look at the picture
presented to our view. Here we see man
standing high in society one who has
been accustomed to counsel and advise the
youth of our city-one WI ose VOC has oft
been heard in our Legislative halls-striy-
ins with pers evering energy to crush young
man because his views, upon certain SUI =
iects differ from his own. And v hat reasons
does he advance IN explanatiea of his
attempt to anhihilate, to s'fnish' his
opponent {? Let us examine this matter f. r
single moment.
With a cooiness that is certainly COM
mendible, "Pro Boao Publico" asks our
citizens to put no confidence in the commu-
n:cltions of'sO b cause he is q "stran ser;
he demands that 500 snail not be believed
for the reason h. is sspoor; he asks that.
so shall be denounced because he pos
scsscs no ''r,al estates" he desires to have
o condemned because he owns no srail-
road stock ! he seeks to have'sO ensured
because his 'baggase can be moved from
Mnscatinc to Mosco for the trihins sum of
Il "; and holllng' % up before the people
he demands that he shall be ridculcd
be, cause he has no '.wifc ID maintai. -
The picture is b,au'ifai AMI interesting
one, ana leave it without comment for the
public to gaze upon.
But you, Mcssrs. Editors, suppose the
shock have received twill prove u finish
err Knowing that your opinion upon sub
jects of controversy that are being discussed
in your paper is not given without much de-
liberation and thought, l shall not dissent
from your Judgment. eTz
1t was my intention when | cbmm ncei
IT. ose communications to haye continu,
them It II farther, but knowing that they viii
be judged by the coat Weir, and the rcal
estate own, | shall desist for the present.
In closing can truly say, that. in pennins
the two articles which hive alre,dy appear
cd in the Journal, was prompted only by
the purest and sincerest motives. was
actuated only by desire to see the inter-
ests and welfare of Muscatinc promoted. /
can also stand the imputations of being an
"lncendiary" and sire brandt for they
die l upon the breeze that hurlel them in.
to life. That s'ilustrious trio' will have to
Try go" again. Their "crushing' has not
proved a "finisher" yet.
Messrs. Editors, am done. l too, place
the matter in the hands of an shonest and
intelligent people," As far as am con-
cerned personally, abide by their judg-
ment, conscious that at least have cntiear-
ored to d. my duty. Man asks his fellow to
do no more, and philanthropy demands no
holier tribute from her votaries. o. I
negro named Charles, convicted Of attempted
RIPE respectable white woman, was hung at
Charia "a nm IA