Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-12-04
Mr.. West and the Journal.

The Journal of yesterday has an article
excusing its reference to the former business
transactions of Mr.. West, the late Democratic
candidate for Mayor, which we cannot allow
to pass unnoticed. Aside from the flimsy
excuse which the Journal brings forward for
its disparaging criticism upon the character OF
man who, as that paper distinctly acknowl-
edges, is "an intelligent, honorable, gener-
oUs man. there are certain erroneous and i'll
tempered remarks in reference to the soon
ductors'' of the Sentinel, which reflect no
credit upon their author.
The simple fact that Mr.. West is "sn in
teliigent, honorable, generous man." renders
him unasssiiable; aud the admission of this
fact by the Journal, in the broad and unq1al-
flied terms in which it is made, is confes-
sion that its attack was piece of sheer wan
tonness, without a single circumstance to pal
late It. The attempt Of the Journal to JUS
tify itself on the ground that the Sentinel
'ignorantly and fcolishly assailed the Repub-
lican candidate" is pitiful resort, of which
an Intelligent honorable, generous man"
would scorn to avail himself. 1t is the plea
of the ick-pocket who would justify him
self for plundering his victim, because some
other member of the profession had estab-
lished a precedent. Whether the ignorance
and foolishness'' of the Sentinel is a suffi-
Gent cover to the acknowledged wickedness
of the Journal, is question, we think,
which expert casuists will find no difficulty
in settling. The misfortune of the Journal
is, that it has turned "State's evidence
against itself.
Whether the articles Of the Sentinel, in re-
lation to Mr.. Wallace betray the ignorance
and folly attributed to them by the Journal,
we leave for those to Judge who are better ac-
quainted with Mr.. Wallace than the writer
of this article is. 1t is true that some of the
conductors of the Sentinel are comparative
strangers in the city; but no enc knows bet
ter than the editor of the Journal that the
editorial corps of the Sentinel has been head
ed, throughout the canvass, by gentleman
apolis and one of the most experienced poll
ticians in the State. That gentleman has
made it bis special business to speak through
the Sentinel upon such subjects, and in refer
ence to such facts, as were not familiar to
those Conductors" of the Sentinel whose
misfortune it is to be '.utter strangers in our
city," Those Strangers have had the tact
and the discretion, as little disposed as the
Journal seems to be, to give them credit for it,
to abstain from making an exhibition of their
ignorance and folly" by diving. at random,
into matters which they did not fully under
stand. Hence when the Journal accuses them
of 'fgnorantly and foolishly assailing'' the
Republican candidate for Mayor, it goes of
On the wrong scent altogether. Like Beech
er's dog "Noble,"sit Is Barking at an empty
hole"
The articles in reference to Mayor Wal
lace, were from the pen of the gentleman to
whom we have referred, and whose thorough
acquaintance with the subject of his CON-
ment we think the Journal will not under
take to question. Taking all the circumstan-
ces together, our amiable cotemporary has not
added many inches to his stature, either by
his inexcusable attack upon Mr.. West or by
his illiberal filings at those Conductors of the
Sentinel" who are "utter strangers in our
80