Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-12
[From the Independent, March III
Henry Ward BeeCher on Anonymous Let
terS.

There are many wrong things which persons
do from want of reflection, or from lack Of ex-
perience ard writing anonymous letters is one
of them. AS a general rule, it is safe to say
that no person should address to another any
message which he is unwilling to put his name
to.
The only cases in which the name is of little
Importance are those in which there can be no
objection to its use. If one is compiling a book
or engaged in some known literary work, one
may send him materials, or references, or hints
of facts and books anonymously. But what
earthly reason has the informant for Withhold
ing his name?
We receive great many, and the history Of
some of them will convey our views better than
general statements.
One writes to say that A B. is suffering
great desttutiOn, is very worthy, ought to be
relieved and no signature Our impression
is that the person who wrote the letter and
the one mentioned therein, are one and the
same, and the whole is an attempt to beg by
means Of lie
Another sends a letter signed member of
your church, y in which various criticisms are
freely indulged We do not believe a word
about the membership and if we did, should
say that tares were yet mingled with the wheat
No person has any business to express an
opinion of public affairs that is not willing to
put his name to it.
Another person writes about third party
unfavorably, and the moment that we get the
drift of the letter We look to see if there is a
responsible name. If there is none, we pitch
the letter into the fire. and fear that the writer
will follow, in due time, unless he repents of
the ineffable meanness writing evil of fellow
hiding his name. This is an attempt at assas-
sination. A man that will by anonymous let
ters injure another, would commit any crime
to which his nature addicted him, provided
there was motive and impunty.
Very different are communications in which
the writer's reveal their own experience We
think this to be-a case, if there can be any,
which justfes Withholding to none. And yet
we have in mind two cases, both Of which
show that it would have been better to have
given the name. In one, piteOus history Of
wrong, suffering, repentance, and almost des-
pair, was revealed. Had the person given us
personal interview, or the meaLs of it, we
were of opinion at the time that We could have
prevented almost fatal mistakes, and secured
great good. But it was by the mereSt chance
months afterwards that we found out the wri-
ter And then it was too late to do any good.
In another case, person from Troy, in this
state, gave a very effecting account of her re-
ligouS experience, but left her name out. Our
sympathy was much drawn out. We believe
that one hours conversation might have set
her free whom Satan had bound for years
But we were cut off from communication. And
when, a few weeks after, visited Troy we would
cheerfully have gone to any Inconvenience to
relieve one suffering much and needIeSsly, but
We had no clue.
If one case in worth writing at all, it is not
once in thousand times that the name should
be left unw:;tten Even if the confession be
crime, or of dishonOrable conduct, it is better
to select one who can be confided in, and then
make frank and full and personal expana-
ton. Repentance behind mask IS suspicious
We disdain to consider the case of those
miScreants who seek to make mischief in fami
hes, in neighborhoodS, or between friends, by
anonymous information, whether true or false
A man who under cover of darkness, would
stab another'S name or hopes, is an own child
OF the Devil, and is about his masters bust
ness with an Internal fidelity.
If you wish to warn person of danger, or
apprize him of any evil 90 to him, or go to
some friend who will, or write with your sigma
ture. But if you will not do that, do nothing
If You are unwilling to bear for another the
risks of writing your name, you are not friend
enough to enttle you to meddle with his affairs
at all
We are largely in receipt of letters from
anonymous persons asking for small loans Of
money, and with only intlaLs for our snperScrip
ton. A glance detects such trumpery, and a
very slight turn of the wrist converts them to
ashes.
\ mans name is meant to be a safeguard
Where man is known, he is silently restrain
ed from n Thousand incidental temptations which
would assail him five were consciously unknown
mans name on paper is the representative
of his person. 1t will be strong inducement
to care, honor truth and propriety The want
of a name to letter is presumptive evidence
that man has been doing something of which
he is ashamed And all honest men ought to
make it a rule to burn up, without reading,
anonymous communications This is our rule
1t is only now and that we begin to read with
out knowing that the letter is nameless But
usually, letter without signature goes in an
instant into the fire, or into strips for the wind
to play with