The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-02-21
Mistfllanruus.
COLONEL GIBSON.

One fthe peculiar features Of our
political life, that disgusts all good
men, Is the cruel brutality with which
partisan editors and orators asssil
private character. We call Il cruel
brutality, for they who suffer most in
this sort Of warfare, ARE those who
are the most innocent aud iuoffeusive.
In ninc cases out Of ten the abuse
passes over the head Of the persons
assailcd, aud falls with crushing effect
upon tho helpless wives aud children. |
Domestic lifc is rendered miserable
to those who are 80 unhappy as TO
have husbands or sons in tho politi-
cal arena. What makes Il worse is.
that such abuse is uncalled for. Ill
is as gratuitous as il Is cruel Nol
enthusiasm is created, no votes made,
no party strengthened by such a
course. On the contrary, disgust
and liberalization are apt to be tho
consequences.
BY this we do not mean the wit
and ridicule that are Legitimate weap.
ons in all controversy, however sharp
and personal, but the course brutal
abuse that any mind can avail itself
of, however mean. Tho most home
opathic dose Of human intellect, set
on end by an inscrutablc Providoaco
for some unknown purpose, can call
General Butler a beast, or Secretary
Stanton a tyrant, but when tho utter
anco is effected we have only heard
tho bark ofa mean cur, or che hiss
of a brainless snake. There is no
wit, humor, argument or ridiculc in
lt. There is nothing that moves one
to anything save feeling Of contempt
and disgust.
Time was when the Democratic
party was above this sort of thing.
We had then men who were eloquent
in speech, and witty or humorous
with the pen, and laid claims TO the
large nature that distinguishes states
manship. But its Oloquenco has de.
generated into vulgar defamation,
aud its wit into personal abuse that
exhibits tho deadliost hate without
tho intellect TO give il dignity.
No man in Ohio is more furiously
assailcd in this than tho gentleman
whose name heads this article. He
is an ardent advocate OF the Union
organization. Possessed ofraro pow
ers as an orator, he exhibits our
principles in a fascinating light, while
he portrays the shortcomings and
treachery Of our opponents in their
truest colors. This is met by down
right personal abuse, that is always
precisely the same in word and feel
| ing.
Yet the ohcnse charged is ono that
excites the pity Of all correct feeling
mon. Colonel Gibson covered mp
the crime Of one near aud dear 60
him, in tho honest belief that if time
were given, the balance could be
made right, and the defalcation wiped
out. 1t was q grave offence, certain
ly. But he had no hand in tho de-
falcatiop, and cobld reap no pocuni--
ary reward, let the matter terminate
as it might. 1t was a weakness, and
dearly did he pay for tho indulgence
Many men would have succumbed
to the dismal storm that fell upon
the devoted head of Colonel Gibson.
But he is made Of better stuff, and
although he keenly feels and suffers,
he goes bravely on, willing to bide
his time. In private life he is quie.,
laborious and kind, while as a sold
ier in the late rebellion, he had few
equals and no superiors for gallantry
and efficiency on the battlefield.
he has helped carry the proud name
of Ohio in triumph over many hard.
fought and doubtful battle field, and
|iu return Ohio should shield and sus-
tain him.
Had our party the pluck that our
enemies exhibit, we would take up
Colonel Gibson and make him Gov
ernor of Ohio. As we cannot hope
for this, we at least expect that as he
is assailed he will be defeuded, until
these slanderers get it worked into
their stupid heads that it ia a losing
qame a. Mac-a-Dhee Press.