Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-15

neighbor come after the long debate. He
Q 1arges thstRe are s'unpOpular." Weregari
this as a very unkind remark. 1t is not so
harsh ps some things which he has said but
it is fully as dpkiud, suppose. however, We
were 10 ask oar neighbot how he knows we
are unpopular: Suppose We we're 10 ask
him TO prove It Who would be his an
thoriIyl Would II be Mr., Dole or some
such persOn, orwouId it be Mr.. Moore or
some other secessionist. Unless our neigh
Dor agrees to specify wherein and with
whom We are unpopular We shall except
10 his Affirmation. Also We must know
whether the editor spoke comparatively |
and means to be understood, infereutially,
that in comparison with himself We are
unpopular. Does the editor mem to say |
that he is popular and we are not? This
is what We want to know. We will readily
agree that il is altogether probable that We
are immensely unpopular with the sort of
people with whom the editor just now
deals. We know We are. And saying this
much We do not mean to be understood as
insiudatipg that we are bothered with pop
uIarity otherwise, or in other directions.
But we would be understood as saying
that We have no idea that 10 point Of
general popularity the editor of the FSesI
has any margin over us. Why should he2
Will the editor please tell us? What is
there about the editor to make him special
ly popular he will not claim it on the
the score of his personal charms, we pre-
sumo, Paiebrisude, for instance. lie will
not eIAimit by reason of a "giant iutelieekI"
IS Artsmus Ward says. BE will not claim
it on the score OF moral integrity, We per-
sumo, at least not so long IS that little
trick with Mr.. Moore and the U. S. Mar
shaI remains unanswered, uuuoticed and
unexplained. On what score then does
the editor perspme to arrogate popularity
to himself and unpopularity to us? Does
heideserve the one more and the other less
than We do2a Does he do more for the public
interests-is he less selfish or disinterested
in suy aud all the relations of life? We
want him to answer these questions. If
we are unpopular he is bound, now that
he says so, to toll why we are so and why
he is not. Let him show one instance where
we have failed fully to perform our COM
Plete obligations TO any one with whom he
is acquainted. Let him show that we
come short of any duty of good citizen,
that,we ever fail to pay the uttermOst farth-
ing Of our debts, that We practice any
vice or inmoraIity known to him or any
other man. Let him show that we ever
even In Imagination, thought of doing such
q thing to any man as he attempted TO do
to Henry Moore. Since the editor affects
popularity We want to test his claims to IT,
We want to know why the editor makes
such reference. We feel very sure that
the status of his paper does not warrant it.
he has experienced no such wtndfall Of
popularity. by reason of his change Of tone
within the last few months as encourages
him 70 ezut in the conscious approval Of
the people among whom he lives. He can
not say that his paper has as large ctrcu-
Iatiou as it has had; that it has not fallen
oEBy q6ires. Eon'ths contrary We can say
that our circulation never was larger than
it is at present. Does this look like if he
wsrs popular and We unpopular To US it
does not.
Popularity is something neither to be
sought after (unreasouablyl nor yet des-
piSea The man who does either is alike
foolIshs The journalist least of all men
caa affect Indifference to the public es-
TEEN, yet likewise of all men he ought to
be the last 70 abjsctly- seek to propitiAte
the favor of the crowd. No editor who
does his duty-who stands mp firmly aud
maufully % his prtnciples-who speaks
out boldly against wrong in men and meas
ures, Cad expect 70 escape enemisS.i We
know We.haVeg made many enemies incur
editorial career, but We have nothing
wherein to reproach, ourselves in the fact,
shave not made. them personally or as,
anindiyfdhAL They hSvSbesn made,i IN thei
dischaFgesef our pnblic duties and onlz in
that way. It. has been our lot TO COM
mence and continue our career through
times. Of great excitement. We have bad
necessarily to become parties to mach Ofit,
and id becoming so ne have had to deal in
all. sorts of ways with ,it--sometimes -ad:
dressing ourselves to men who ehampioned
aud represented principles and sometimes
to ti the principles Themselves. 1t would be
strange, indeed; If We had not many bitter
enemies, aud stranger still if We had any
yetT general popularity, We think we
have. enough friends-as many as men
have who take the same active
mart 10 public Affairs. Sc long as We have
he respect Ot our enemies, however, and
10 long as they can not lay their fingers
IN -oae.-aetion Of our-Iivss that ought 70
,a1ss DIS % feel Jess q q man "A he best