The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-04

The Logic os the Horrible.
The recent lamentable affair in Washington
has called forth from portion of the press COM
ments which will go far to prove that all the de-
pravity of the country is not confined to the
politicians, but that the Journalists are respon-
sible for good share of it. The leaiiug jour-
nails generally confined, themselves to giving the
facts in the case, and deploring the OCCUR
renee as most unfortunate, shocking and lanenta-
bic from every point of view. The drift of pub
lie opinion was promulgated, so far as it could
be ascertained; and there the matter was rested
until such time as its full details shall be eli-
mated in court of law.
But unhappily for the dignity of the Ameri-
can press, this reserve was not universal. Some
small, pitiful penny a-liners could not let so
fine an opportunity for ventilating their peculiar
hobbies pass by without elaborate explorations
The Evning Post led off with lengthy and
marked apology for seduction, upon the remark
ably lucid and purely logical premises that two
wrongs make right. The Times joined issue
with the Post on equally absurd grounds, and de-
| tends assassination. The Post abuses Mr..
Sickles, and labors to find an excuse for the
| conduct of Mr. Key. The argument of the
| Post is, that Mr.. Key should not be punished,
because Of some allegations which it makes
against the previous character Of the husband of
his victim. The Times replies in a lengthy justi-
ication of its idea, that, under the
circumstances of the case, assassination was
perfectly justifable. The Post becomes as
furious as an enraged Arab, and makes
the quarrel personal, by charging that the
course of the Times was actuated by personal
considerations Of a discreditable character The
Times, with an air Of offended dignity which
would be amusing were the matter less serious
in its essentials, abuses the Post in set terms, re-
news its apologies for the assassin, and adds
still more remarkable one for adultery, on the
ground that the crime of breaking the marriage
vows is as ancient as the matrimonial tie itself.
We are given to understand that conjugal inf
deity is quite common with high and low.
Erotic literature is cited to show that we are not
so bad as the Roman patricians, and coarse jest
of some stupid member of Parliament upon the
Divorce bill is brought in to point the argument
Finally, there is an appeal to public sympathy
in this particular case. Curiously enough, the
Times 60 far lost its temper as to stutify ITSELF
and to abuse the Post for defending adultery in
the fi.t instance, and then falling into the same
line of argument. The Post rejoins with "ex-
tracts from the religious papers, and repeats its
personal denunciation of the Tines writer. The
whole controversy is disgusting in the extreme
The fact is that all these scribblers have lost
n sight of the true view Of the case and have used
y it's prominent features to air their vulgar per-
sonal squabbles, at the expense of common de-
cency. Here we have terrible aniay~ naoat
heartsickening tragedy: two happy homes desc
lated-one man cut off in the prime of life, and
another transferred from the national councils to
prisoners cell, detained upon capital charge.
1t is sad story of sin and shame and blood.
All decent people are shocked by it. The cir
cumstances carry with them great aud solemn
| moral lesson. Comment is almost superfluous
in such cases-controversy in the most odious
taste, to say the least of it; but not with the
people of the Post and the Times. They hammer
away at it in the most unconcerned manner, and
will never be tired of spinning out their petty
spites and dreamy platitudes. Between the pro-
fessed apoogists for assassination and the defend
ers of seduction, 1t would be hard to say which
is the most contemplate Deeply regretting the
disgrace which they inAict upon the press of the
country, we leave them to the obscurity from
which they can only emerge by such disgraceful
controversies as that upon the Washington ira
gedy.