The Portland daily press., 1866-12-27

BODY could read it, Here are four Hat contra
dictions in just four sentences. The other
two inform US that we ought not to-"allow'
people to hold and express their own opinions.
As this last is the only point which the Star
has not obligingly answered for us, we shall
consider this alone. Unlike the Star we be-
lieve that people should be allowed" to as
sumo anything they choose. We believe a
newspaper does not perform its full duty to the
community unless its columns are open to sug-
gestions from all quarters. The first question
respecting communication touching any
matter which has been editorially dlscusseu III
the Press, is invariably, whether the artlcle
agrees or disagrees with the views advocated
by the Press fit dissents from those views,
that fact secures its insertion. What we chief
| ly des ire is to know all that can be said ON
the other side. If our opinions cannot stand the
test of discussion, SO much the worse for the
opinions; let them go down as they deserve.
| We have published lately communications
from New Orleans denying that Northerners
| are i'll received there from advocates of the i'm
parchment of the President, and from persons
| who hold that none but Protectionists should
receive Republican votes. From the views of
these writers we respectfully dissent, but they
have right to be heard s=rr3r- ID
| With reference to the distribution OF State
offices, we have expressed no preference. If a
man plainly unfit for any office were put for
ward as a candidate, we should certainly OPP
pose him. Good and capable public servants
we want. The candidates for the several Offices
are none of them, SO far as we know, objection
able. Our corresp )ndent "E. does not agree
with u.s. He regards it as an objection to Gen
eral Shepleys election as Attorney General,
that he is not believer in the Maine law. 1t
seems to us that Gen. Shepley, having just
been elected to the legislature by the Republic
cans of Portland, is not in any immediate dam
ger of being ruled out Of the party. If any
body thinks he is, the columns of the Press are
open for the freest discussion OF the propriety
of the thing. 1t is perfectly proper that the
political opinions of any candidate for Office
should be canvassed. The Maine law is part
of our politics. "E." had perfect and indis-
fputable right to write about Gen. Shepley's
/ opinions on this subject if he chose, and the
Star simply misrses the English language
when itcalls such writing personal" In per-
sonality-by which we understand criticism
not of mans public acts and political opin-
ions but of his private life Press does not
deal. In respect for Gen. Shepley' public ser
vices and professional attachments we yield to
no man. We believe that he, like Gen Cham
berlain, will find that his noisiest are not al
ways his best friends.
The Star accuses the Press of gross injus-
tice," and of conduct inconsistent with 'the
general rule of propriety and truthfulness. -
This language is totally unjustiied by the cir
cumstances. We prefer to believe it was used
without full sense of its meaning. In anoth-
er passage we find the statement, that owing
to the frequent, persistent and indiscreet men
| ton" Of one of the candidates for the guberna-
torial nomination last summer, che felt called
upon to write a note to the Press, and beg, as
they loved him, they would refrain from furth-
er use Of his name" This is silly lie, with
which somebody has imposed upon the Star.
Unless our neighbor is willing to give currency
to declared falsehood, and we do not believe
he is--he will correct that error ga-f