Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-12
Newspaper Controversies,

tQaC We ludy ucfcI uu'S VOOuoiOu W oooioS bLOu'
in similar trial.
Newspaper Controversies.
There are so many ll.natured people in the
world who are never happy unless they are in q
bad humor, or unless they can get some one else
in bad humor, that quarreliing seems to be in
cluded among the necessary evils with which
humanity is inflicted Pandora's box yielded
spite, envy, malice and hatred, and these bane-
! full qualities combine in the character OF tile
quarrelsome man. The most charming and at
tractive element of enjoyment in the hoped tor
Millennium, is the promised peace which shall
pervade the Universe; but until the Millennium
arrives, people will squabble about anything or
nothing. The meanest Of quarrels are political
controversies. Those who devote themselves to
this ennobliDg pursuit, tear each others eyes out
ON paper heap all manner of opprobrious ep.
ithets upon each other, and all very frequently
about mere distractions which neither party un-
ierstands or cares about, the ever present con-
crete reality being the securing of the spoils.-
A little less debased and debasng are newspa-
er squabbles which are getting to be very COM
mon nuisances but which are always unprotta-
bic, and we suppose very tiresome to those who
read them. We have plenty of invitations to
engage in this amusement. Gauntlets fall clash
ing aronnd US, or the cartel comes to US in a
neatly turned paragraph sometimes we are
rudely assaulted with uncourteous phrases, and
sometimes the invitation to retort is addressed
to us as "our respected contemporary" But we
decline to pick up the glove; we ignore the
challenge, and consequently our slumbers are not
disturbed by visitatons from the ghosts OF those
we might have demolished
| Our objections to newspaper controversies are
so numerous, that the only trouble is to select ex
arnples. We profess to write for the entertain
uent and possible edi6cation of people OF intel
ligence, and to these nothing could be more un-
interesting than petty disputes between rivsl ed
| itors 1t requires more arrogance than has fall
en- to our lot, to suppose the public would be a.
mused or instructed by the exhibition of our
private spites, even if we had any to exhibit
Moreover our imagination is not active enough
to create rivalry where none exists There ere
always topics inviting discussion in which SEN
sble people are Interested and the investigation
necessary to speak to the purpose on these topics
requires much time and labor. There is nothing
easier than to write Aippant attack upon some
thing or somebody, but in our Judgment the
space allowed for editorial matter can be more
worthily occupied.
| Although we have no experiences to record,
our OUoCl Loo tIuEho no thoo bS"SPeP~A
| contests never pay. They always remind us OF
the Kilkenny cat story. The victor in these en-.
counters is like one who has gained csse in
the chancery suit, in which the costs have swal-
lowed the proceeds. Besides, victory docs not
often perch upon the banner of the decentest
contestant, because be cannot get his own con-
sent to use the most effectual weapons IN this
kind of warfare. To ensure success, one must
not be too delicate about the use OF means. 1t
is necessary to distort the enemy's deliverances,
to misquote, to give garbled extracts, and to
force meaning into his expressions which Cid
not originally belong to them. If a. lady gets In
to dispute with virago, the lady Will un-
doubtedly come off second best, because she has
not an unlimited supply of Billingsgate to draw
upon, and would be troubled with innate ideas
of propriety if she had. While we wear white
pantaloons and polished boots, it is not polite to
kick pig out of the way, especially it he has
Just got up from his sesta in the ditch.
If a newspaper is to be useful in the world, it
must exert more than merely personal influence,
and in order to be influential it must be always
dignifed in its tone and conduct. There are
plenty of people who enjoy these foolish contro-
verses, but these are not the wisest or best in
the community. 1t is no small matter to have
daily audience of ten or fifteen thousand people,
and no man in his senses can remember his re-.
sponsbility, Gf he have such an audienceO and
make mountebank of himself In his quiet
sanctum he prepares an article which may be
read by countless multitude. II he has spo.
ken wisely and well, his thoughts will be copied
into other journals, and he has thus an opportu.
nifty to disseminate the eternal principles OF truth
and right far and wide. So far as he inculoates
these principles he will be benetactor to his
race and if he should condescend to notice the i'm.
pertinent open attacks and the halt-hidden lnu-
endoes which will be inevitably launched against
him, he would do it at the sacrifice OF his dlgnl-
ty, and consequently at the sacrifice OF his USE
fulness. His is nObler vocation, and he mas no
time or taste for pitiful controversies.
Something may be said in defence OF those pa
pers that do furnish this sort OF mental food for
their readers. 1t is easier to make personal at
tacks than to write on abstract subjects. Dig
nifty seems to be an old fogy institution and out
of place in this age. Young America is fond OF
spice and pickles, and is not fond OF anything
conservative or slow. 1t seems manly and hear
ty to cut and slash, even If the blade "falls not
on vulnerable crests," or If the party assaulted
will not cut back. 1t Is safer to derlde that
which one has not wit enough to comprehend,
than to attempt reply, and Infinitely more non
OrdOle Iilan 10 repedb u souoip'o PioPooi.A"h'
All these considerations influence journalists
sometimes, and only age and experience and
large circulation will furnish better motives
The abiding consciousness that he is not writing
in van-that his utterance will find an echo in
honest hearts, and perchance exert wholesome
influence upon men, when the brain that gave
birth to the thoughts, and the hand that traced
them will have ceased to labor-this is sure
safeguard against the folly snd the Ettleness Of
newspaper controversy -BaltsnaoTe AAaeracan
Splitting HAIRs.-Some years ago, Roger NJ.
Sherman and Perry Smith, OF Connecticut, were
opposed to each other as advocates In an i'm
portant case before court OF justice. Smith
opened the case with violent and foolish IT,
rade against Sherlnan's character. Sherman
rose in a composed manner and remarked: =
81 shall not discuss politics with Mr.. Smith
before this court, but am willing to argue.ques-
tons OF law, to chop logic, or even to split hairs
with him."
'Split that, then," said Smith, at the same
time pulling out short, rough looking hair from
his own head, and handing 1t over towards Sher-
man.
'May it please the honorable court" retorted
Sherman, II didn't say bristles!"
TEE Albany Statesman gives sketch of q
lecture by blind man, and grayely says che
spoke without notes"
II ks.. L