The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-16
Criticism of Public DIen.

We publish this morning two communica-
tions aptly representing class of rash judg-
ments which right-minded men ought careful
lyt avoid. and into which nevertheless the
best of men are especially liable to be led
Horace Greeley has illustrated his doctrine of
universal amnesty" by furnishing bail to set
free the head and originator of the terrible re-
bellion which still torments us with its legacy
of debt and political confusion. Thereupon
our correspondent "Citizen," moved by an i'm
pulse of indignation not surprising TO those
who know as we do, that he has wandered on
the battlefield, seeking for the bedy of his
dead boy, devotes Mr.. Greeley to the execra-
ton of the present and all future ages, and in
sinuates that the operation is simply designed
to extend the circulation of the Tribune at the
South and increase the profit of it's owners!-
This harsh Judgment, though natural under
the circumstances, is unjust and wrong Mr..
Greeley sacrificed his prospect of election to
the United States Senate, by declaring frank
ly and without disguise that he favored "uni-
versal amnesty even without universal suf-
frage." The Republicans of New York reject
ed the doctrine, and rejected Mr.. Greeley as
they had a right to do. They had no right to
impeach his sincerity, or the purity of his mo-
tives. His recent action is in perfect keeping
with his earlier avOwal, and Citizen" know
ing absolutely nothing of his motives except
what Mr.. Greeley has chosen to reveal, has no
right to assume that they were improper.
Another correspondent sends us an article
from the New York Independent, reviewing
Governor Andrews recent argument against
Prohibition, and claiming that its logic is SO
defective as to admit no apology except that
he was ''serving two masters" consciously
trying by intellectual slight Of hand to bejug
gle the question so as to satisfy both the timid
Temperance men and the liquor dealers. If
this were SO, Governor Andrew would be
worthy object ofcOntempt. But is it impossi-
BILE for a worthy and able man TO commit such
q logical error? If Governor Andrew is illogi-
cal, is it necessary to suppose him to be con-
sciously SO? If SO, what shall We say OF the
Independent itself. The Independents arraign-
ment of Governor Andrew runs thus: ~
He proves that the use of liquor is no bad
thing, and then that the prOhibitory law must
be u very bad thing because it really multiples
such use.
That is not true. Governor Andrews posi-
ton fairly stated Involves no such contradic-
ton. He attempts to prove that the reasona-
BILE and moderate use OF liquors is not injuri-
GUS; at this point the friends OF Prohibition
take issue with him, as they have right to do.
But he also admits, as every man of common
sense must admit, that the immoderate abuse
of liquors is very bad thing, and contends that
the prohbtory law really tends 10 oaugRent the
abuse it is intended to check. On this
question of fact he has been met by evidence,
and no other reply is legitimate. The vital
point in the cont roversy bet ween the two par
ties represented by Gov. Andrew and the In
dependent is precisely the question whether any
legitimate distinction can be male between
the use and abuse of liquors as beverage
The Independent unconsciously, we are bound
to bslieve, has ignored this point; has in con-
sequence of its own error attributed to Gov
ernor Andrew looseness OF. reasoning with
which he is not charseable; and has then pro-
ceeded to accuse him OF wilful misrepresenta-
ton. Governor Andrew may be wrong, but if
so the iault is in his alleged facts and not in
his logic; he has not fallen into the childish
contradiction which the IaGepe ndent rather
recklessly charges upon him.
These assaults upon ch aracter, by way of re-
plying to arguments or dishonoring opinions
put forth by distinguished men without argu-
ment, are always to be deplored. The Tribune
has often erred in that direction, and conspic-
uously last summer when Mr.. Beecher appear
ed to be going over to the enemy. Mr.. Beecher
indeed made grave mistake; so perhaps have
Mr.. Greeley and Gov. Andrew; but shall their
long and faithful service in all good works and
ways go for nothing? Is character worth
nothing? Are we to believe that a man wakes
at six o'clock in the morning an angel of light
and before supper time becomes devil incar-
mattel Men do not change their moral charac
ters as they change their clothes; but all, tht
best and ablest, are liable to error and at times
need the veil Of charity to cover their mistakes
The independence of the American people, the
promptness with which they refuse to follow
their leading men into by-paths, is their best
guaranty for glorious future; the vicious
tendency which pertains to this as to every
other good quality, is the tendency not only to
reject mistaken counsel but to rail at the CIV
ersr