The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-05-24

Filthy Political Literature.

Fremont, May "a, 1861.
Filthy Political Literature.
A friend at Knoxville, Tenn, sends
us this week copy of Parson BRowE-
Lows paper, the Whig, containing a
three-column article from the Parsons
pen-being letter addressed to "Bul-
"ly Baxter, of the Brigham Young
"Wing of the Rebel Psrty"-which
affords fair sample of his ability to
abuse an opponent 1t is no wonder
East Tennessee, both before and since
the war, has been disgraced by deeds
of lawlessness, where politicians and
newspapers appeal to the wickedest
passions of the heart, and vie with one
another in belehing forth abuse. Our
sympathies in the present canvass in
Tennessee are of course entirely with
the Union party which Gov. Brown
Low represents and of which he is the
candidate for reelection. His election
will result in maintaining the suprema-
cy of the Union element over the reb-
els, and is therefore to be hoped for by
patriots everywhere. But it is lament
able TO think of the baneful influence
of the example of his style of election
eeriDg upon the young politicians of
that State. LIS harmful lesson is, that
abusive personalities and blasphemy
are more potent than argument or ap-
peals to reason. His letter to Bully
Baxter However great scoundrel
the said Baxter may be--is disgrace
to political literature. {" | shall not at
"tempt" says the Parson, ga lecture
latter the the style of literary writer,
"nor yet learned disquisition upon the
"prefession of the law, but plain,
"common sense history of North
Carolina felon, who is at present the
bell-wether of an East Tennessee flock
"of swindlers, liars and traitors"
Z "Many of the leading
"men of this State have come to know
"that Aadrew Batter, who served a
STERN in the Georgia penitentiary for
demonstrating, and was afterwards
shot down like dog in Polk county,
"in this State, for barn-burning, was
"your eldest brother. He was the ex-
"act counterpart of yourself in size,
"features, voice, manners and princi-
"ples. He was as good man as you
care, but was less successful in con-
"cealing his villainy. | have pardon
"ed better men than either of you out
"of the penitentiary at Nashville"
= Referring to charge made by Baxter
that certain Judges were corrupt the
Parson says: "This wholesale charge
"comes from a man whom | heard
Gen. Arnold denounce as id liar
"and coward, in law Office full of
gentlemen; and saw Arnold prove
cit by rubbing his fist under your nose,
"and making you sit down in chair
"with your big stick in your hand !"
Pleasant and convincing style of cleo
tioneering, that
1t is popularity supposed that Princi-
pies of some kind are in some way
connected with politics, and that in
campaign it is the success Of these that is
desired; that certain candidates are sup
ported for office not because they alone
have ability, but because they represent
principles which their election will put
into practical operation. But such
electioneering as Parson BRowEIow's
sinks anything like principle entirely
out of sight, and consists solely of vitu-
peration and scurrility. The one fea-
ture about politics more notably disrep-
utable than any other, is the license
which is given to slander and abuse
candidates for Office. We all know
that it is human nature-or rather the
misfortune of little minds-to be en-
vious of people who are more success
full; which envy manifests itself in
spiteful language and actions; but
the wholesale abuse of private charac-
ter by a certain class of politicians and
newspapers, is as unnatural as it is
scandalous, and certainly can find no
defenders except among those whose
ideas and instincts have been perverted.
Even where the abuse is merited, it is
assuredly gross violation of good
taste and direct pandering to the low
est and basest feelings. Newspapers
which indulge in it necessarily debauch
or disgust their readers.