Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1854-04-25
SEEF-DEFENsE.

n The editor Of the Fountain commences
his loading editorial Of last week with the
favorite proposition Of all writers against
Christianity, namely, that "Self-defense is
the first great law Of nature" Thomas
Paine calls it "selfprotection," Volney, in
his "Ruins, /" denominates it .self- -preserra-
tion."' The most powerful arguments used
by these writer's are brought forward to sus-
tain the proposition that the doctrines Of
Christianity are at variance with the laws Of
Nature, and if we admit their premises--if
we allow them the exclusive right of de6n-
ing and interpreting the laws Of Nature, we
willyery soon be driven to their conclu-
sions. The teachings Of the Great Law
giver, are, in our opinion, at least entitled
10 equal consideration with those Of Volney
and Paine. He taught that LOVE was the
fulfilling Of the LAW. Love being the first
great Law Of Natures God, we repudiate
) the Atheistic doctrine of our neighbor as
false and absurd. taa &1is a .1
Equally unorthodox is the assertion that
"no one, unless he be base, cringing cow
ard, will suffer imposition without resent
assnt" We are not prepared to denounce
every true Christian as "base, cringing
coward" and no man who obeys the teach
ings of the Bible will resist evil, but rather
return good for evil. ao atl 1o
The next proposition we will not deny,
viz: "rhe viless reptile that erqaols upon the
earth, will bite or bruise the hand that
afflicts it." Abundant evidence of this fact
may be found in the article under consider
alton, if evidence were needed, The viler
the reptile, the more speedy and certain the
show Of resentment.
The editor next tells us that somebody
has been abusing him. Although we do
not believe word Of it, still, for the sake
of the argument, we are willing to admit
thatsuch thing is possible, and will even
go farther, merely for arguments sake, and
admit that every thing charged against the
individual named is true. Still, we find in
all this nothing to justify scurrilous abuse Of
private character in public journal. He
acted solely in an individual capacity. He
may have been opposed to the establishment
Of such paper as the Fountain, and, in the
heat of controversy, in private circles, may
have used the language charged. So far,
the difficulty was purely personal and pri-
vate, and had friend Hoy sought remedy
corresponding with the offense, we should
have considered it justifable. But, no reas-
oning can justify an editor in reyenging pri.
vate wrongs in public journal. In the first
place, tits co,oardly.a Itis taking an unwar.
rantable advantage Of an adversary, and
is even less honorable than highway rob-
berry, as the bold outlaw gives his victim 8
chance for his life. Again: it is an injury
to community. 1t ministers to a depraved
appetite, and fans the flame Of strife ant
discord. what man ever lived on the eartf
VINO mad no enemies, and never suffered
wrongac suppose each one should resort u
Puohc Journals Tor remedy! whata worlt
would We 1--we IN! IL is pad enough now
u wouio a.l 1nen lll DC m'oleraple' oVsF a
After vulgarly complimenting himself OIL
what he is pleased to imagine he succeede,
in accomplishing. he eays: ''In thus defend
ing our reputation and our interests, we wer
but living up to that great law Of nature
selfpreservaton. In another article, il
the same paper, he says: "If persons woul
mind their own business, and let the Foun
tain alone-r-lst its editor hare chance I
Iips as iSsH asthsmseluss, they never woul
be disturbed by u.s." When we complaine
Of his inconsistency in publishing certai
advertisement, he charged US with doing S
in order to prevent him from getting sui
scribers, and thus making living from th
proceeds Of his new Office. In the sam
strain he refers to that circumstance in h
last issue. The only inference we can dra
from all this is, that his sole aim and pu
pose In all his undertakings is to get a liuin
All his talents and energies seem concel