Des Arc citizen., 1866-06-09
rnr. lhe. pes Arc ctizen l
CRITICISM.

 rules of Grammar, Rhetoric or Logic; so good taste and good sense would suggest that fair discrimination aslto the lrles,of criticism is admissible and Applicable all composition, whether the subject matter treated, or style, or choice ot words beeon- sidered; but when the rules are applied, too rigidly, 1t betrays an egotistic spirit as well as captious dispositions Many would be stringent critics if they but possessed the requisite abilities, On the other hand; many would be pleased if the number of critics were less. Criticism offer pushes itsvotaries into intolerance and persecution; while indifference and negligence of such rules orpinciples, in ethics, science and philosophy leads to results founded in er- ror Hence a successful writer or compos- itor feels, Gas perhaps he should,) that he is to pass between Charybdis and Sylla; must tread between burning ploughsharesI or sail close to the winds in making his dcJutas newspaper editor or correspon- dent. For every project, proposition or measure of policy has it's enemies as well as friends; and 1t isexpectcd f'the friends of every measure t. place the subject be- fore the public imthe strongest light and best phase ot which 1t Susceptible; while the enemiessof such measure are on the, alert to detect some, error or, apparent in consistency in the language, faetsor results. It is always easier to find fault with9what others do, than to better the job ourselves. Alexander Campbell oncc remarked, that a fool could ask more questions in half an, hour than philosopher could answer in fifty years. It is amusing to hearS men sometimes earnestly striving to show the inconsistencies, errors and contradictions in the Book of Books--the Bible and most often, these same men have read that sacred book but little,, and have studied it still less. @But weak critics magnify trifing errors" s.eM g.s,:.f t.s.ss.
 It is always easier to convict and convert a philosopher than ati ignora,ifus or noisy bigot. A philosopher Mtgsdss or supposes certain things to Dc asats dnd so--7a5 ,bigot or fool always hao'os things to be just as he says-with one you can reason, with the other you-cannet ~ rw "
 Now there is such a thing as bold and manly criticism that is eminently com mendables-acritiei that aims to do good in setting forth the truth, in which we re- cognize that hard to be practiced maxim, that our best friends are those that tell us of our errors, 5 lSnt most ofislrevefsethisi maxim, and consider as enemies those that tell us of our errors.
 But it.isAiot ts bsinferredthat criticism is to be fettered or limited in it's slegitnnate7 and appropriate field; it is the spirit in which it is sometimes exeroisod, or the abuse of the exercise of it. that seems re- prehensible-the oaTmas operaadi, some- times has more vinegar than oily CHarity, it is said, hides a, multitude of sins, but. truth in all it's force, should never be hid or smothered-however specious the plea or plausible the sophistry under which er TOT or fakehood would seek to mantle it. self Candor and sincerity constitute the true nobility of mind, while sycophancy and duplicity are the sure attendants of falsehood and error. Then to apply the subject-the citizens of Des Areand couns, try adjacent tothe route along which it is proposedgto extend5the Des Arc, Dardan- elleand Forth Smith Rail-road, are attempt ing to revive the charter for said road and bring the subject fairly before the public, in order that the people may. have an op- portunity todecide thisiniportant question. The friends of the enterprise are ins favor of free and fair investigation of R the pros and cons involvedm thequestion, and pro- pose to meet the issues, that may come up fairly ana squarely ly--and would be pleased to have thewhole people actively interest ed in this great investigation, It is not the enterprise ofaa few men, nor is 1t fair to presume that matter of such moment could be claimed by any class or set of men; simply from the fact that some have vol unteered to meet the people in public as. semblies and discuss the subject; by plac. ing the facts and figures befue the tue sovereigns of the soil Nor is it fair to attempt to. dispm9ge the views Of .thosel who may oppose the building of the Road at this time--it is due to those opposed to { the project of immediate aet;on-to regard ] them as gentlemen, occupying high and | honorable grounds-actuated from high of 1,,+x~ ! I