Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-27

1
, DER for its opposition to the. re-nOmin a
tiOn of Judge Spalding, and declaring
! that "the history of few political canvasses
} affords aparallel to the venom and reck-
lessness that characterize our course to-
ward that gentleman, uses the following
language:
''The course of the LEADER has become a
scandal to this District, and it is not enough
TO know it is condemned by all men who
recognize the cOurtesies of life, and the pro-
prieties of good neighborhood, but con-
deHnation, deeper than individual opinion
can infict, is due from party that we
know scoras to endorse its sentiments"
We appeal to our readers to sustain US
in our denisl of the charge urged by the
Herald. Wehave never indulged in any
unkind or improper personalities in re-
gard 10 Judge Spalding. All that we
have criticised in the course of that gen.
tleman has been his official action. In
the remarks which we have made in re-
| gard to that action, We have only exer-
cised the right which our republican insti-
tutions given, not only to every journal,
but to every citizen Of the country. In
the discussion of this subject We have
spoken temperately and with moderation.
We have conceded to Mr.. Spalding's
friends their right to support that gentle
man in all fair and honorable ways; we
have given place to all his speeches and
letters and to all communications
in his favor couched in proper
terms and containing matter of any mo-
ment; we have scrupulOusly endeavored
to treat him and his friends with all pos
sible fairness and frankness. In pursu-
ance of this resolve ace hare rejected erery
communication attacking the personal
habits and character Of Mr.. .SpaldiHg,
lrhich has been presented to as. We have
endeavored to exclude personalities from
this canvass, and as far as We are con-
cerned we have done SO.
In this regard the course fthe LEADER
affords an honorable contrast to that taken
by the Herald only four years ago, in re-
lation to their nomination of Mr.. Riddle. |
The readers of that paper can bear wit
ness to the persistency and malignity |
with which it pursued Mr.. Riddle at that |
time. 1t bounded that gentleman, day |
after day, with personal attacks the most |
abusive and indecent 1t warred against |
him with all the material at its command. |
1t lavished its stores of ridicule, ,scorn and
contempt upon him. 1t invented malicious |
ISLANDERS against him. 1t charged him-a |
man of unusually humane and refined |
disposition-with inhumanity and brutal
ity The history of journalism in this
district fortunately affords no parallel 10
its malignity and venom. Recalling its
course then, we can appreciate the Her
ads present declaration Personalities
we will not indulge in" Remembering |
that that course was caused by the sore
beadedness of its editor, we do not won
der that it, judging others by itself at
tributes the political course ofevery paper
to personal disappointments. We call
upon the Intelligent public of this district,
who remember the Herald tone and tenn
per in treating Mr.. Riddle, to say which
paper can fairly charge the other with
Incorporate and abusive personalities.
The Herald seeks to connect Mr.. Par
sons with the course of the LEADER in
criticising Mr.. SpaldiDg- In this regard
we need only say that Mr.. Parsons has no
control whatever, direct OF indirect, over
the editorial management of this paper.
He is not responsible for its sentiments,
nor is it for his, save so far as they coin
eide. In the only two conversations,
however, which the editor of the LEADER
has had with Mr. Parsons in regard to the
pending canvass, he has expressed himself
decidedly opposed to the use of all per-
sonalities against his opponent, and has |
requested as a favor that all attacks on |
that gentleman as a man or citizen |
should beexcluded from our columns. We
happen to know from other sources that
he has followed this course himself, and
has requested his friends to follow it, in
speaking of Mr.. Spalding.
The article of the Herald is a well-con-
ceived attempt to gain sympathy for
Judge Spalding by holding him up for
public sympathy as an abused and unfor-
tunate man However, that attempt will
fail. The people of this district are in
teIlieenta and observing. They understand
very well the difference between malig-
nant personal abuse, like that with which
the Herald followed Mr.. Riddle, and
frank and fair political criticism, like that
of the LEADER on the public course of
the Hon. R. P. Spalding. r zFfsa
nj. n,r,oorao-- ,,rofass fO faal great