The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-12
The Republican Dirty Linen-AnOthcl
Washing Required.

The Republican Dirty Linen-Another
Wnshing Required.
Tho Weed and Opdyke libel case is ended,
and the jury has disagreed. After all the
scrubbing, and rubbing, and boiling, and toll
ing, and mangling Of the past few weeks, the
dirty linen of the republicans is not yet clean.
Weed has been washing, and Opdyke has been
washing, and the most eminent lawyers Of the
city have been up to their elbows in soapsuds
and hot water; but the stains will not come
out About half Of the jurymen think that the
linen Is clt n enough to be paid for-although
they differ aaout the price-and about half of
them think that Opdyke's linen is no purer than
Weeds; and so there is nothing 70 be done but
to have another washing day and let somebody
else turn the mangle. Very few people will be
at all surprised at this result When Messrs.
Evarts and Pierrepont bundled Opdykc's linen
into the tub, everybody declared it to be foul
and to smell to Heaven. When Messrs. Field
and Emott appeared, bending beneath the
heavy burden of Weeds dirty linen, there was
the same general expression Of opinion. The
jury ought certainly to have been equally
divided, for the merits Of the case were evil
IDENTIFY six to one and half dozen to the other
Of the parties concerned.
We sincerely hope that Opdyke will not i'm
mediately roll up his sleeves, get out his soap
and try another washing. There is gentle
man Of stronger frame and larger muscle than
Opdyke who has been sitting through this trial
with an immense basket of dirty clothes upon
his knee, and this gentleman should be allowed
his chance. or course we refer to ex-Surveyor
Andrews. He has some of Weeds linen in
charge, and when he spread IT before the public
in his recent letter il looked as If it sadly needed
cleansing. The public have had quite enough
of Weed VI. Opdyke or Opdyke VS.. Weed. They
have agreed upon q verdict If the jury have
not Although twelve intelligent men have
failed to decide the case according TO law,
several hundred thousand men have decided
the case according to common sense. II is the
old story Of the pot calling the kettle black, or,
to stick to our frst smile, the collar calling
the shirt cuff dirty. When such prolonged trial
has been held; when such legal talent
has been engaged; when such vast
amount Of evidence has been given; when
30 learned and impartial Judge has care
fully summed up the whole matter, and
yet, after oil this, ajury, which we are bound to
believe unprejudiced and intelligent, can come
10 no definite conclusion, the courts Of law had
better be abandoned and the case left In the
hands Of the people, who win mete out to each
Of the litigants strict and ample justice To be
sure, this Is ending the affair just where
II begun; but we have always held that
in the present state Of journalism, libel
suits are almost unnecessary. II anybody
Il attacked in a newspaper he has, in all we'll
conducted journals, fair opportunity to re-
ply. Badly conducted journals, which refuse
this opportunity, are not influential, and their
misrepresentation hurt nobody. This plan Of
settling the libel In tho paper In which II was
published is more summary, more satisfactory,
and, as we see by this trial, moro decisive, than
resort 10 court Of law.
Our advice upon this subject Is not very
likely TO be taken, however, until men become
more sensible and lawyers less numerous.
Political libel suits are quite fashionable now
a-days, and the democrats are only waiting for
the republicans 20 get through with the wash
tubs and the ironing board. Opdyke vs.. Weed
will soon be succeeded by Sweony vs.. Brooks,
and the garments Of the democracy viii flap in
| tho wind from the some clothes lines which
have just been adorned with the garments Of
the republicans. As soon as that wash Is over,
or even before II begins, let us finish Weeds
linen, and let ex-surveyor Andrews BIO the ope-
rator. The Albany lobby seems to be running