Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-09-14

MIR. EDITOR


would like to make a statement OF the facts
that were doubtless the cause Of the attack
made upon me by the Courier OF last Sat
urday. Ttmay appear TO many that any
thing which that paper may say Is unworthy
of notice or reply; bur others are Of differ
ent opinion, and when the cause Of it's
cowaraly assault admits of such easy cx-
planation, there is nc improperly in making
il public.
On Monday or Tuesday Of last week, Mr..
Sprole, the collector Of the Courier, called
on me for the subscription price for the
paper for six months. produced areceipt
from Mr. Parker, the former editor, for one
year, and offered TO pay the balance which
would then be due. Mr.. Spro'e stated that
! he had not made any arrangements with
Mr. Parker to furnish papers to Subscribers
who had over paid at the time the office " as
sold, and that he would not allow anyth!n &
for Mr. Parker's receipt. then told him
that | ha6 never subscribed for the paper
since it belonged to Mr.. Atwill, and that it
j, was sent, il must have been sent on the
prenaid subscription which had made to
Mr. Parker. Mr.. Sprole said it had been
left at the store on the corner Of FIR mt and
Main streets. where formerly did business,
and that was bound in law to pay for it
received but four numbers of the Courier,
and il was well known that ! had stopped
doing business at the stand referred to.
Thus the matter ended. If had paid the
unjust demand OF Mr. Atwill, he would new
err, By innuendo or otherwise, have coupled
nv name with any terms Of derogation. But
as declined yielding to his attempt at ex-
tor,ion, either for the purpose of relieving
his necessities or minstering 10 his cupidl-
ty, he has grstified the petty malice which
he is enabled to do BY the position which ne
occupies, but for which he is entirely UNFIT
and has sought to revenge himself by pub
fishing an abusive article. He has got
money from other people BY the sane ope,
ration They, perhaps preferred paving to
having any words about it, or to having
themselves abused in the Courier. paid
him no money, because | did not owe him
any, and have received his abuse.
In thus making his paper the channel for
the communication Of his own personally
malicious feelings, Mr. AiNill would seem
to have a curious idea OF what are the du-
ties Of an editor. In my opinion, even the
editor of a public journal is not placed en-
tirely beyond any bounds Of restriction, and
is not at liberty TO consult exclusively the
lawIess promptingS of his own selfishness.
Controlling, as the press is Acknowledged
TO do in great measure, the destinles OF
nations, and often having the happiness OF
a whole people al its disposal, its conduct.
ors should not be governed by motives M
dividual and selfish, but by those OF gen.
uine patriotism aud OF wide-embraclng
philanthropy. The presen, age impera-
lively and emphatically requires that those
having the control of the press should be
men Of sound principles and pure morality,
and OF energetic action in behalf of all
movements which give a reasonable prom
Use of good to society. Mr. Atwilrs opin-
ions appear 10 be widely different from
view Ike this. and as he prefers making
his paper an instrument for endeavoring 10
extort money unjustly, to using it for any
of the better purposes which come within
the influence of properly conducted public
journal, the sooner he retires from stua-
ton which he is maaiiestly incompetent to
fill, the better il will be for the interests Of
Community, il not FOR his own reputation.
Esos TIcHExoR. =