The New York herald., 1862-05-07
The Bogus Enterprise or tho New York
Times.

robbing him, In order to convince any stray
policeman who might be in the neighborhood
that their victim was q ruffianly scoundrel, and
that they, being gentlemen of exemplary virtue
had felt 1t their duty to knock him down and
give him into custody for an attempt at rob-
berry and assault. The "Little Villain" Of the
Times, who is perfectly well posted in all the
tricks OF the Knights of the Pave, has adopted
this same device to cover up his newspaper
thefts and swindles. 1t is his ordinary prac-
tice first to steal our news and our opinions,
and then to attack and berate us, with great
show of virtuous indignation, as if we had been
guilty of the very errors of which we had just
convicted him. An extraordinary instance of
this brazen effrontery may be found in the COM
ments in yesterdays Times upon M. Mercier's
visit to Richmond.
The news that N. Mercier had gone TO Rich
mond was published in the HEnAID Of April
Is. The next day. April II, commenting
editcrialiy upon this news, we disclosed tho
schsms Of Nspoieon to ally himself with this
country against England, and then explicitly
stated:-sNow, the object of the visit Of Mercier
is TO tell jeff Davis and his Cabinet thst they
must submit at once; that if they do not France
will take part with the North, and settle the
affair very soon. But if the Southern leaders
will lay down their arms the Emperor of the
French will interpose to save their necks This
reasoning will probably be successful" Two
days after, on the 10th of April we devoted an
editorial to NJ Mcrcier's mission, remarked
upon the curious interest it had excited, ex-
posed the fallacy of the various rumors
of its connection with cotton or to-
bacco, and then proceeded to say
owe adhere to our theory that M. Mercier, from
the Emperor Napoleon, has gone to Richmond
as peacemaker. We are very much strength
ened in this opinion by the fact, which has come
into our possession, that before leaving Wash
ington on this mysterious enterprise NJ Mercier
was closeted for two hours or more with Mr..
Seward, our Secretary of State. We dare say
that from this conversation the French Minister
went away entirely satisfied that the govern
ment of the United States intends, in any event
and against all difficulties, internal and exter-
nal to prosecute this war to the complete resto-
ration Of the territorial integrity of the Union;'
and we presume, too, that N. Mercier has for
some time been convinced that the Southern
confederacy Of JEFF Davis is failure, and is
rapidly fading away. like castle in the clouds.
That Louis Napoleon has lately come to this
conclusion we have every reason to believe;
ticns Of Louis Napoleon arc very apt to 30 to-
gather. When he divines the drift of passing
events: in other nations he proceeds to meet
thsm; as the vigilant guardian Of France.
Hence il is our belief that NJ. Mercier has gone
to Richmond as q peacemaker; that his busi-
ness is to advise JEFF. Davis to abandon this
hopeless rebellion, and to rely upon the good
United States in behalf Of liberal amnesty,
and to warn him, on the other hand, of the
possible Intervention Of France against himself
and his confederates. if they in spirit Of bar
barous ferocity, shall extend their resistance to
the Union to the criminal extremity of wasting
by fire our Southern cotton, tobacco. sugar and
rice crops, which are so essential to meet the
common wants Of mankind"
To the conclusions thus expressed we have
Of course adhered, and have since repeatedly
expressed them editorialiy, although. in ac-
cordsnce with an invariable policy, we have
given our readers the benefit, in our news
columns, of every reasonable rumor upon
the subject, so that those who could not
| accept our solution OF the Mercier mystery
might have ell the circumstances from which
to deduce theories for themselves. The Times
in common with our other contemporaries
violently attacked us for the articles we have
quoted, and lavished the most absurd and
ridiculous epithets upon us for holding such
opinion. In few days, however, the World
concluded that we were right, and on the 2lst
of April published long editorial, adopting
our views, but mixing them up with great
deal Of its own silly rubbish about the Pope of
Rome. The Times continued its abuse, how
ever, until yesterday. when, imagining our
articles forgotten, and seeing . chance to
operate upon stocks, the /" Little Villain "
came out with long despatch, dated Washing
ton, but really written up from our columns in
the Times office, and with an editorial which is
mere paraphrase Of our own-the very ideas,
words and order of arrangement being pal
pably stolen. The only original sentence in
these conspicuous, double loaded articles in the
Times was false, and was to the effect that the
HERALD had declared that Mercier would
bring French fleets and armies to the
aid Of Davis" Il is thus that our con-
temporaries get up their special and excit
ing news; for the information which the HERALD
gave its readers on the 18th and 10Th of April
the World copied on the 2lst, the Times re-
vamped for May 6, and the Tribune will repub-
ish some time next month
Now, as newspapers cannot be copyrighted,
we are unable to prevent and find it useless
to complain Of this gross plagiarism. We can
only pity the readers of these slow journals,
who are compelled, in this fast age, to be
three weeks behind the rest of mankind