The New York herald., 1863-08-20

The Hon. Ben Wood In aresisy's Tog-
gerry.
We have An apology to make to the Hon.
Benjamin Wood for nsglecting to pay our COM
pliments to him for some days past. The fact
Ia we had entirely overlooked his existence,
and for that we beg bis pardon. We hope 1t is
not too late to notice his latest theatrical move
ment, when he appeared on the stage in full
suit Of Greeley's old clothes-white hat drab
coat dangling to the heels, the pantaloons care
lessly stuck into the boots-all complete. The
Hon. Ben, we must confess, did not look the
character very we'll. He was not nearly 80
natural in it as he is in his successful role Of
Lottery Policy Vender. He ought to stick to
that in preference to politics, Fort Lafayette
literature or Journalism. He is cut out for it
by nature, and he has found it money making
affair; whereas, in the other walks to which he
aspires, he will only reap disappointment ex-
pose his ignorance, damage his reputation and
lose his hard earned cash. Above all things,
let him not venture to appear second time in
Greeley's old clothes. Greeley himself is
ashamed of them, and only occasionally puts
them on.
All that trash about the HERALD making
what Is called Q somersault in April, 1861, and
which the Hon. Ben now scrapes into his news
machine, has been long ago exposed as ridicu-
lous nonsense The conscientious Horace never
deals in 1t now unless when he loses his temper,
and does not know what else to rave about.
But for the cultivated, polished and most
honorable Ben to attire himself in these cast
off garments evidences a rather low and de-
pravcd taste on his part, and we regret to
see it.
The HERALD was In April, 1861, as 1t is In
August, 1868, an Independent newspaper organ
Of the people Of the United States, as fearlessly
combating Northern fanaticism as Southern
secession. During the last months Of Mr.. Bu-
chanan's administration 1t constantly urged
him to call out force Of sixty thousand men
with which to crush treason before it was fully
tatched. But the old public functionary would
not do anything Of the sort. For the first six
weeks Of MIR. Lincoln's administration we urged
the same policy upon him; but he was too busy
in distributing the spoils Of Office to attend to
more serious business, and, besides he believed
that nobody would be hurt. At last he woke
up one fine day to find that the rebellion ball
had been opened by the bombardment of Fort
Sumter And then he rubbed his eyes, and
thought 1t about time to act on the HEEALD's
advice. Since then we have been getting along
toaether pretty WELL we helping him on, sus-
tanning him and giving him good counsel and
encouragement, and he apparently thankful for
our aid. Latterly, however, we have observed
Indications Of his weakness and backsliding 10
bringing the eternal nigger into the question
of the war for the Union, and this has rather
cooled our ardor and eafeebled our support Of
him.
In all this there has been no deviation on the
part Of the HERALD from the path OF an impair
tial, Independent enlightened popular news
paper. whaseyer 9opperhead or niggerhead
Journals may do is of no manner Of coasSquenoe
People do no. expect anything good from
them. But the HERALD must keep right, no
matter who goes wrong. This attempt, there
fore, Of the Hon. Ben Wood to appear in the
cast-o6 toggery Of poor, penitent Horace is
just about as ridiculous as 1t would be for Gree
10y to turn himself into o lottery policy ad-
vertising machine, and to parade Broadway
with tickets Of lucky numbers stuck all around
his hat.