The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-29
Judge Cation on the Chicago Times.

The following letter to the Chicago Times
was called out by the recent i'll tempered at
tacks of that paper upon Judge CATION. The
Judge wieids Il sharp pen as well as the editor
of the Times
OTTAWA, ILL.,, Feb. 90.
exceedingly regret if have hurt your feel.
ings by writing a private letter to gentleman
in Peoria, who seems to have overlooked the fact
that he was, as will be seen by the terms of the
letter, expressly prohibited to publish it. Ought
you rather not blame him for the pain you suf-
fer Had he not violated my confidence, you
would not have heard of it, and no would have
preserved your equanimity. The manifest per-
turbatien of your feelings SHOULD excuse you for
whatever unfairness there may be in publishing
in your columns of to-day an extract from that
letter, with some refined and classical comments
upon it, instead of allowing your readers to Judge
with the whole text. They would then have
seen, in the second paragraph of the letter, that
it was not written for publication, which, in your
agitation, you seem to have overlooked, when
you say I eagerly seized the opportunity to ven
tiate my opinions; for surely you are incapable
of Intentionally misrspresenting me. They
would also have seen that speak as we'll of Mr..
| Pendleton you have ever done. have no
doubt you will gladly do justice to yourself by
puDisnlHS tNis Hote, dnu 10 your ToA0eTs ~ CIV
| ing them an opportunity to judge for themselves
by perusing the letter, since you have done so
| much to call public attention to it.
| Had known it was unlawful or undemocratc
to express any opinion not in harmony with your
own, should undoubtedly have been even more
careful than l was 20 conceal my own views. l
ROW confess my error. should have appreciated
that such was the case, from the uniform success
which has resulted from following your counseis
for the last five years. You have tho proud
satisfaction of believing that your voice has been
may justly take to yourself the credit of having
placed the party in it's present proud pre-emi-
nence. DO noa disparage yourself by the rofec-
ton that you have been "failxre" u the self
constituted leader Of the party. 1t is but Just,
then, that all candidates whom ysu do not favor
should stink back into unmerited cbscurity, and
| all their friends observe silence. must, there
fore, again ask your forgiveness for having, even
in confidential letter, said word not in &C.
cOrdance with your views. No doubt the party
will by following your wise counsels, continue
| ON in its career of success.
1t is no doubt, true that even editors some-
| times, by their arrogance and egotism, make
themselves ridiculous; and could they hear the
remarks of the common people through the
country about their superelious assumptions,
they would sometimes doubt their infallibility;
but such is not your case. | am aware the city
editors are beset by certain class of country
politicians, who whenever they are in town.
must 90 and fawn around the editorial footstoo
and drink in the inspiration of the august pres
ence. If a mere citizen might take the liberty
to advise an editor, l. would tsay, do not trust
these gentlemen too much AS to what are the SEN
timents among the people. They are shrewd
enough to know your views, and arc wise enough
to say nothing disagreeable to you. If you are
not cautious they will initiate you, even beyond
your capacity.
Only forgive me for writing that unfortunate
private letter, and you shall see how will vince
when l hear the crack Of your whip again
Surely, there is but one Allah, and Mohammed
is his prophet. Yours truly, j. ID. CATION.