The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-03-30
Netps Mlistellalrg.
From the Independent, March II.
Henry Ward Beecner on, Anonymous
s,-a Letters.

There are many wrong things which persons
do from want of reflection, or from lack of
experience; and 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 lit
tie Importance are those ia which there can
be no objection to its use. If one is compil.
ing book, or engaged in some known literary
work, one may send him materials, or referen-
ees, or hints of facts and books, anonymously.
But what earthly reason has the informant for
Withholding his namef ts.s -r-t5
We receive great many, and the history
of some of them will convey our views better
than general statements. .ss ~ q
One writes to say that A. B.. is suffering
great destitution. 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 that the whole is an attempt to beg
by means of a lie. - sa'
Another sends letter signed a member
of your church. in which various criticisms
are freely INDUCED. We do OF believe a
word about the membership; and if we did,
should say that tares we're yet mingled with
the wheat. No person has any business to
express an opinion of public affairs that is not
willing to put bis name to it. 5at
/ 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 wri-
ter will follow, in due time, unless he repents
of the inefable meanness of writing evil of a
fellow, and hiding his name. This is an at
tempt at assassination. A man that will by
anonymous letters injure another, would com
nit any crime to which his nature addicted
him, provided there was motive and impu
nifty. -j --1 Es,, ,.tt
Very different are the communications ir
which the writer's reveal their own experience
We think this to be case, if there can be
any, which justifes withholding to none And
yet we have in mird two cases, both of which
lshow that it would have been better to have
Igiven the name. In one, a piteous history o.
wrong, suffering, repentance, and almost des
pair, was revealed: Had the person given Us
q personal interview, or the means of if, We
were of opinion at the time that we coult
have prevented almost fatal mistakes and Sc
cured great good. But it was BY the meresI
(chance months afterwards that we found out
the writer. And then it was too late to de-
any good. ..,..15s4 a54
In another case, a person from Troy, in this
State, gave very affecting account of hel
religions experience, but left her name out
We believe that one hours conversation nigh,
have set her free whom Satan had bound fo1
years. But we were cut off from communi
cation. And when, few weeks after, We
visited Troy, we could cheerfully have gone tt
any Inconvenience to relieve one suffering
much and needlessly, but We had no clue.
If ones case is worth writing at all. it is no
once in a thousand times that the name should
be left unwritten. Even if the confession bt
of crime, or of dishonorable conduct, it il
better to select one who can be con6ded in
and then make frank and full and persona
explanation. Repentance behind mask i
suspicious. ;taa -aa
We disdain to consider the case of thost
miscreants who seek to make mischief in fam
lilies, in neighborhoods, or between friends, BY
anonymous information, whether true or false
q A man who. under cover of darkness, woult
stab another's name or hopes, is an own chilt
of the Devil, and is about his masters bushes
with an Internal fidelity.
If you wish to warn person of danger, o.
apprize him of any evil. go to him. or go tc
some friend who will, or write with your sig
nature. But if you will not do that do moth
Ing. IF you are unwilling to bear for another
the risks OF writing your name, you are no
friend enough to entitle you to meddle will
his affairs at all. Hf
We are largely in receipt of letters from
anonymous persons asking for small loans o
money. aud with only initials for our super
J scription. A glance detects such trumpery
and very slight turn of the wrist convert
them to ashes ..-
A mans name is meant to be a safeguard
Where man is known, he is silently restrain
led from q thousand incidental temptation
which would assail him if he were cousciousl,
unknown A mans name on paper is the rep
resentative of his person. 1t will be ION,
liniucement to care honor, truth aud proprie
ty. The want of name to o letter is pre-
lsumptive evidence that q man has been doin,
something of which he is ashamed. An al
honest men ought to make it a rule to burr
'up. without reading. anonymous comnsanica