The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-10-09
No. XXI

they affirm. Even their own parzan friends
and patrons cannot believe them, though for
the sake of political eject, they pretend to be-
leve them men of truth. However good an
official nominee or candidate may be,-though
pure as an angel,-the mastiffs and ours Of
the press of the opposition set about viIlifying
his reputation. 1t truly seems that the less
Objectionable he is, the more vile and odious
they will endeavor 10 make him appear. The
past is carefully scrutenized and every faur
pas in his life is held up to view with all the"
horrible exaggerations a morbid Imagination
can invent lfno ms-step is discovered, some
sct is misrepresented or saying garbled and
if this fails, whole cloth lies are fabricated.
and corroborated by perjury. Even bache-' ;
lor's love affairs are unfeelingly dragged from
the sacred shrine of their keeping, and the at
tempt to fasten some shadow of guilt there
with connected, upon him, is maliciouslg
made: the faintest shade of appearance sufi.
cient Men, occasionally professors of religion,
after thus maligning the virtuous. will severe-,.
ly reprimand, if not chastise, their children
for telling a falsehood lecturing them sharp
ly uron the sinfulness and meanness Of the
practice. 40 constancy, thou art jew
el."
How much vital pety can such politicians.
possess? About as much as Pontius Plate,
the High Priest Caiaphas, or the traitor Ju-
das Iscariot. Need we wonder that the rising
generation is SO prone to prevarcate and ex-
aggerate and falsfy? The wonder rather IS,
that we are not nation of lies AS to the
calumuy end mendacity in political new6
prints. the evil is working its own remedy:
otherwise should have little hopes there is
such pleasure, derraved though it is, in
riotng in SANDER and destruction. Ask
maligning editor, after his dirty work is DONE,
ifhe does not feel shamed "Byno means p'
will be the reckless reply, Inquire why, and
he will ansv err " All is fair in politics p Now,
in my opinion, that is false and dangerous
sentiment. Falsehood, deceptioR defamation
are the same in character, everywhere.
I have said this last evils correcting itself.
This is the manner Here is n neighborhood
comprising individuals of different politics.
One has been laboring to convince another Of
some important "f fact :" it may be the alledg-
ed Roman Catholicism of Mr.. Fremont, the
the Pro elayerysm Of Mr.. Fillmore, the hope
.essness of Mr.. Smiths election, or the disun-
ioni,m of Mr.. Garrison, or he Federalism Of
Mr. Buchanan. He receives paper contain
ing al Prt.cle, which, in his estimation, settles
the point in dispute, and goes to his ncghbor
with it. "See here, fri. nd JONES'" he be-
gins; 81 have in this paper OF mine, some
thing that will decide the matter about which
we were argueing yesterday" "Ah" in
quiringly remarks the neighbor addressed !;
What is ito" "Why, it is an article writ
ten by gentleman of acknowledged integri-
ty, and fully cor,oborated." "What pape-
is it ?" politely asks Mr.. Jones. "lt is the
'ampaign," responds Mr., Smith. Huuph!'
txcams the former gentleman {" don't wish
to see it," "Why not'" inquiries the latter.
i" Because" replies Ar. Jones, "petsoha o.
undoubted veracity' are plenty who will tell
the most abominable falsehoods, for political
fleets and il that were not,the case, have
no confidence in your partizan prints. won't
have such paper about my house."