Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-23


war that he MEANS Ths first part Of paper that is
read is the Geographic column with dispatches from
the battle field. at the beginning men loved the ex-
eitereut-they delighted in rumours Now people are
terribly in earnest They want the truth. They want
nothing more and nothing less. Under these crcum.
stances appears to to be the duty of the press to
seek that first. Reports it must give for the telegraph
will bring reports, and rumoura more less reliable
will be received from other quarters. To sift these
mours to weigh testimony and to give an Intelligent
and Ineligible Of occurrences and Of the exist
ing postiln of affairs is perhaps the most acceptable
service thai journal can render to its readers.
AS in matters of news, so in matters of opinion men
seek ought to seek reality plain speaking, GOODNESS
and candcr This is time for pitching in " or pitch
ing outfcr making partizan appeals for this man or
against that 1t is no tina for appealing to any
nor for addressing any particular class or
calling of men. A paper is published for the whole
community lis existence depends upon the suppose
ton that it is So and that its aim is the public good,
for upon no other ground could the exemption Of
the few persons engaged in carrying it be asked for
or justified. Most honestly do we doubt the moral
right Of Congress to exempt any parties for the pur
pose of carrying mere personal organs engaged al
most wholly in the advocacy Of personal claims.
These remarks, as applying to sush organs in this
State may Eeem harsh. But are they not correct p
OF course we apply them to the organs not to the in
diViduals engaged IN their manipulation. Different
persons may have different ideas of duty, and
cede Others the right we claim for ourselves
Still VI earLct reconcile with notions OF the cuty
of journalist the constant effort to present every fact
in partzan light to bring forward every circum-
stance with direct reference to its bearing upon the
political fortunes of particular individual or can
didate The public has primary claims upon the press
1t has right to all the information the press prop
erIy communicate, without coloripg or evasion.
Articles addressed to particular interests, appeals to
men &C cordipg to certain assumed cassifcations, we
have aw aJg regarded dangerous in their tendency
and not unfrequenty insulting to those they design
ed to fatter CT cajoe. Freenen in country may
be tall short, fat or lean strong weak, without
being any the less freemen. So may they differ in
worldly circumstances and still be equally reemen. It
would be as absurd much opposed to the spirit of
our institutions TO array the poor against the rich
the rich against the poor, would be to array the
dong against the short men, or the fat men against
the lean men. These are accidents OF stature of
worldly circumstances which in nowse effect the real
matter. What is true and right in itself is true and
right by whomsoeVer it is read and heard and it would
be none the less 60 were all the world to refuse either
useful and wholesome and good for all. Appeals to
classes sections are dangerous and unpatriotc-
Nay they insulting, suggesting the existence of
real supposed difference and half limited ineriority
where none such is fairly presumeable.
A good many goIders-or, speaking more accurately,
good many citizens low in military service take Our
paper. Would that could publish it at prices that
it would render it convenient fer to do Some
of army subscribers officers Others and the
large ma ority not. They all citizens. What
is for the good OF the country is for their good what
is opposed to the good Of the country is opposed to
their good And, indeed, the converse of this PROPOSE
ton may be regarded as pretty applicable the good
of the soldiers the good of the country and the evil of
the soldiers is the evil Of the country since the best
blood of The whole country is in the army Is an army
constituted like that of the Confedaracy to be regarded
addressed in any way differing from the country
at large of which it forms 80 important part We
think not We certainly have never supposed so, and
have never thought Of writing appeals to soldiers as
such upon political matters and we have regretted to
sec such appeals coming from any quarter. Especially
have we regretted to see any appeals calculated to
awaken pre- udices create antagonsns between citi
zens holding commissions and citizens not holding CON-
missions We all know that all cannot be officers, as
also know that the brunt Of battle must fall upon
the rank end e while at the same time the history of
the war shows how freely the officers have exposed
themselves ard offered up their lives for their country
opon every occasion. Perfect harmony between
officers and men is very essential to the efficiency and
weLbeing OF the army, ard is, of course
of vital Importance 20 the success of the cause which
all are battling for That anything tending to weaken
this harmony to create distruss between persons
cupyDg different positions the service can only be
oductve ofev, every of common eense will see
for himself.
Now, we regret 10 notice that there is an effort to
create such distrus in the ranks of our army-to set
the soldiers against the officers and the officers against
those who ere not ccers-to hold out the idea that
one candidate for Governor is the friend of the soldier
the private-ard that the other is not To insinuate
that because A B., who happens to be an officer,
chooses to support Gov. VANCE, therefore O. d. who
happens to be private should waive his own nrvate
jud gmen, and out of blind spite against his officer sun
post Mr. HOLDEN. We think that the worse than folv
OF this thing requires only to be pointed out to be con
denied We viii not Insult the common sense of anv
OF our readers in or out of the army, whether Officers
OF prlVates, by arguing such a thing Yet such a
course OF eectoneering is carried o. directly and ind
recty and, We regret to say not without its effect
MIR. HOLDEN is represented the exclusive fr;o5 lei
the private soldier and prejudice as between soldi
and officers is sought to be evoked in his behalf IF ..
package OF Standards or Progresses does not reach
destination, it is charged to the tyranny the officers
OF ne Confederate Government, such thing; and