The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-08-09
A few Words to the "Rump" Cor
respondent of this Paper.

A few Words to the "Rump" Cor
respondent of this Paper.
We feel a kindly interest in the
young gentleman, whoever he may
be, who, over the signature of "PrO
bono pub2ico," wrote the "Rump"
account of the proceedings OF the
Democratic County Convention.
We say to him, that he is allowing
himself to get into bad habits of
thinking and writing. He is
doubtless well known, in the COM
munity, and has friends of respec-
table standing. 1t is evident from
the classical style and title under
which he writes, that, at some re-
mote period, he had access to a
book of "familiar latin quotations
with accompanying translations.
1t is probable that he went to week-
day and sabbath School, and was,
''on general principles, brought up
in the fear and admonition of the
Lord. 1t is important that all this
care and teaching should not be
thrown away. If we can recall
him from error, and "pluck him as
a brand from the burning" the con-
sciousness of a good act will be
our ample reward.
First, then, we would call his at
tention to the fact, that all his
friends will know, as soon as they
read his article on a "packed" con-
vention, that he has mot to put too
fine a point on it) been drawing
upon his imagination to great
er extent than a strict regard to
truth and fair dealing would allow.
Now, this is not right, and we doubt
not they will say 70 him that it is
not creditable to his training; that
he can not win public confidence,
nor extend his influence among
good men, by indulging in that
style of political warfare. If they
have failed to remind him of this,
we hope he will not take it un-
kindly, if we perform that office.
There are no laurels to be won in
that field. 1t is easy to write in
that way; and grows easier rap
idly-to put it in Shakespeare's
language "itis as easy as lieing"-in
fact, it is about the same thing
Yet even a talent for lieing, may
indicate the existence of the imag-
NATIVE faculty in such a degree, as
il turned into a proper channel,
might be made useful to the pub
lie, and honorable to the possessor.
The fact that he signs himself Sec
retary "for the public good", evin-
ces a latent sense of duty shows
that he recognizes the fact that
every man is in duty bound to use
his talents for the public benefit.
We hope this Secretary" will turn
his attention to legitimate argu-
ment and discussion. If he don't
like "butternuts," let him, with
whatever ability he has, expose the
falsity of their positions, the folly
or wickedness of their conduct,
and the unsoundness of their DO
litlcal principles. Here is field
enough tor his exertions, if they be
in any degree deserving of the
contempt with which he speaks of
them. We invite him to the
work-and let him fail or win, he
will, at least, deserve the credit of
having met the foe in honorable
combat; not the disgrace of hav-
ing been political "bushwhacker."
We don't insist that his style
mnst be grave and his matter
heavy. By no means. Let him be
witty (if he can;) let him be spicy
(if he can;) let him indulge in rail.
lery, irony, sarcasm, to the extent
of his ability. These, when used,
not abused, are valuable weapons
in aid of truth. -
We don't object even to a rough