New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-22
4 CLOSE RE1SONER.

Logic is always best when it is laconic. II is
not given To every man to be teIsc and IN
cisive and vcIbOsity sometimes gets rhc better
of vigor and spoils dialcctics which otherwise
would be charming. Now, there II phloSO-
pher in Montgomery, Ala, of whom we have
lust been reading who seems entitled 10 nm
limited plaudits for the swift but sufficient
manner in which (mctaphoricay spcaking) hc
floors his antagonists. Mr.. Henry Wilson has
the reputation of deXterous debater; but,
when he had finished a pretty good speech
recently, ut Montgomery aforesaid, our logic
chopper Whose name, we mourn To say. i I'M
known 10 u.s. instantly, without taking a
second for preparation, responded 81 don't
- care a d what he said; he's IL Radical
anyway For certain qualities, we must de
clare that we lave rarely seen anything finer
than this. OF course we do not approve of the
well known word which we indicate by dash
and a Cd; but some takers find it 50 useful,
and necessary. even, that they cannot get along
the least comfortably without it. But the
economy and force of the rcfutatiOn is beyond
all praise; and we reprint it for the benefit Of
Copperhead orators ut the North who, thinking
il indispensable upon great occasions To talk
not less than three hours, and really having
nothing to say, are sometimes extremely DIS
tircsSed and in mortal dan ger of diSgacefully
breaking down. Would they not get along II
great deal better by initiating the intense &C.
lclity of the man in Montgomery Let Us, for
instruction or for amusement, submit 1t TO II
slight analysis.
Imprimis, II do MT care a d what he said
The beauty of this is that it shows, beyond the
possibility of dispute, that, however eloquent
or argnmentative the attack, the hard head and
heart of the auditor remain unmolliiicd. lie
treats the assault with Ostentatlous indifference.
He regards the bringer of new doctrines rs the
monarch of Brobdgnag looked down upon little
Capt. CULVER. For all pleadings in behalf OF
Justice for all rational considerations OF pnl-
dence and expediency, for all demonstrations
Of the wickedness of the Rebellion, for all ex-
hOltatiOns 10 Il wiser course, he enteltaihs
sublime Indifference, and simply does not care
as aforesaid. lie may prove himself 10 he
n fool but this is q free country, lh
which man has o right TO he foolish or
wise at his own sovereign will or pleasure. Inc
sublime carelessness of this Montgomery gentle
man arises merely from the fact that he has MADE
up his mind-whether rashly or carefully, non
estly or knavishy is Dobody's business but his
own. We have seen hundreds Of just such men
in our day and, whenever We have tired 10
convince them, we acknowledge with shame
that we have always been ANONYMOUSLY over
thrown. You adduce facts but they uon
care; you indulge in little indignant elo-
quence, but they don't care; you absurdly APP
peal to their common sense, but they aoh
care; you sustain the justice OF Manhood
Suffrage, but they don't care; you advocate
measures plainly enough necessary II the
Union is to be permanently reorganzed' but
they don't caro- and, strange to say. this dog