Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-18
MR. THayER AND THE SPY.

It appears, by what Mr.. Thayer said at
Fitchburg, lastevening, that he claims right
to have Photographic reports of his speeches
published in the Spy. We do not agree with
him on this points but, as what he said at
Fitchburg, has been said in the same spirit on
the streets here in Worcester, it is proper for
us to make statement of the case.
Some days before Mr.. Thayer's first speech
was delivered in Worcester, one of his friends
came to us to ask if we would publish pho
nographic report of the speech, provided they
would pay the expense of reporting. The re-
ply was that we would do so with pleasure,
because we wished to give our readers full
report of it, At another interview we told the
same gentlemen that we would share with
them the expense of reporting. and also that
we would pay the whole expense rather than
fail of an accurate report. The reply to this
was that they were not very anxious on the
subject, or, at any rate, not enough so to un.
dertake any portion of the expense. But we
secured a report OF the speech and paid the
bills And we find in this nothing TO COM
plain OF, for, on the whole we were glad to
have it So AS a matter of business, the publ
cation of the speech was a very poor opera
ton, for there was scarcely any demand for it
outside of our regular circulation. But we did
not undertake it as a speculation. Our aim
was to give the speech to our readers.
We afterwards published a photographic
report of the speech of Mr.. Aldrich and here
we resolved to stop. great many speeches
will probably be made i'll this district, in the
course of the next ten or twelve weeks; but
We shall not publish photographic reports
of them. If any or all of the speakers demand
of us the publication of such reports, their
demands will not be complied with. We
have done all that seems TO us necessary in
that line and if we publish another full
report OF a speech, on either side, it will be
for some special and important reason, which
cannot now be anticipated.
When Mr.. Thayer had made arrangements
to deliver his second speech in Worcester, his
friends came 10 US again TO ask if we would
publish photographic report. Our reply
was that we did not wish to publish another
such report of a speech, on either side,-that
great many speeches would be made, and
that if another of his speeches should be so
published in the Spy, it would probably lead to
a demand for the continuance of such reports
but we would follow the usual course and give
a sketch. 1t was then asked on rhdt terms we
would publish the speech. Our reply was that
if we deemed it best 10 publish photographic
l.. 1
did not think it best TO do so, our decision
would not be changed by any pecuniary con-
sideration and we repeated, that we declined
to publish it, because we did not mean TO con-
tinue publishing speeches in that way.
1t is not justice, or honor, or courtesy, that
leads him to speak of this matter as he did
last night. He has had full hearing in the
columns of the Spy, for we published in full
his speeches in congress, the past session, as
well as the first speech he delivered in Wor-
cester, after his return home.
Mr.. Thayer constantly falls into one very
serious mistake. He is continually assuming
that there is little or nothing to be taken
account of, in the discussion that has arisen
between him and his constituents, but his own
personal claims. Ii VS. criticise his views, he
feels "assailed." If we object that he does
not truly represent the republican sentiment
of this district, he is ''assailed." If we do not
talk so as to plead his cause rather than our
own, he is "wronged" and deprived of a hear
ing. Mr.. Thayer 81 ould remember that the
representation of this district in congress is not
his own personal affair that his constituents
have rights as well as himself, and that in all
relating to their representation in congress,
their rights are much superior TO his. He has
sometimes spoken of that seat in congress as
"his place" 1t is not his place 1t belongs
to the district and in all the discussions re-
lating to it, we must be influenced by our con-
victions of duty to the republican party. We
have dealt candidly, and even forbear-
ingly by him. We have given his per-
sonal claims as much consideration as pos
sible,-a great deal more than many earnest
republicans can fully justify. We shall con-
tinue to treat him with fairness but we shall
not sacrifice th republican party to any claim
of his eccentric and assuming personality;
nor shall his injustice be allowed to make us
unfair towards him.