Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-07

difficulty. Pollard had the reputation oil
being violent, irascible, domineering and
sadly wanting in consideration and dis
cretion. OF all men bo was probably the !
very last man who should ever have
turned editor or meddled with printers
ink, for there is no profession which re-
ouires a greater amount of active and
constant direction than that of the con-
ducter of leading paper. He is daily
required to act the judge and the arbitrator
as to what the public should be told ana
what they should not. Cases are con-
stantlyarising where charityis imperative,
where, if anything wrong has been done,
and there is any doubt of it, the doer is
entitled to the benefit OF the doubt Mr..
Pollard had the misfortune to be the type
of q class ofsjournalisis who regard the
public as 80 much game and the frsilties
and foibles Of society as open 10 unbri-
died criticism, and Mr., Hanna, the writer
of the article which produced the diff
Guilty., seems to have been bird OF the
same feather. Whenever man or a
woman does anything which puts them
before the public and their action becomes
the town talk, then they are no longer
hedged about with the sanctlty OF private
life and domestic relations. 1t is Just
here, then, that the journalist stands be-
tween the individual aud the public. VI
course there are some things which the
public must and will know, and which
there are always unthinking editors who
will minister unto, but the discreet and
charitable journalist will discriminate as
to what the public shall be served with,
and what shall be left uDsaid, that the
erring one may be dealt with as lenientiy
as public justice and due respect tor
the laws Of society may require. The
misfortuues and imprudencies OF families
or young girls are hardly the property OF
the public, but such is the morbid and
prurient taste for gossip, scandal, and
the sensational, that they are pounced
upon by the newspapers invariably ss
perfect god-sends, and dished up dd na't-
scum, the imagination of the fecgling
reporters soaring higher than the facts
of the case in many instances.
Pollard, by his want of proper con.
sideration for the feelings and rights OF
individuals, had rendered himself ex-
ceedingly obnoxious and offensive and
was regarded with unkiH iness by many
as dangerous man. He was not deficient
in personal courage, always went armed
to the teeth, said and wrote whatever his
tempter prompted, and had grown to be
terror to the quiet people of Rich
mend. All of this, however, does not
exculpats Grant. II sometimes happens
that there ia no longer any peace with
him in it, and the people rise en- mdsse
and lynch him out of sheer self-preserva-
ton. This was not the case with Fol
lard; he was simply an extremely dis
| agreeable person, with whom it was very
unpleasant to have quarrel.
! We had hoped that the days of Nat
chez-under Hill, Vickshurg in 1885,
and California in l848, were passed ;
that the day had arrived when personal
difficulties could be arranged quietly by
arbitration, or if needs be with proper
decorum in a private duel. There are
some indignities which enc man can put
upon another, which flesh and blood
cannot stand, and to atone for which the
blood of the aggressor but poorly. an
swsrs. Grant does not appear to have
had such provocation, and even admit.
ting that he did, he did not take any OF
the steps a cool man should to obtain an
apology or q retraction. On the con-
trary, he prepares himself with the care
Of professional murderer, arms and
fortifies himself, and awaits, secure from
surprise or attack, and without giving
Pollard ghost of chance for his life,
shoots him down.
Now, instead of this method of pro-
ceaure, if he had upon seeing the otfen-
sive article, called on Pollard and po-
litely but firmly said, Mr.. Pollard, here
is an article which reflects seriously
| upon lady of my family; it does me
and mine a grievous wrong. am un-
willing TO believe that it has been done
by you or with yosr sanction with the de-
| liberate intention of injuring me, and l
would therefore request that you settle
this matter by disclaiming in your next
issue any intention of insult, and ex-
press to me your regrets that 1t should
have occurred and offer your apologies.
This would have given Pollard chance
to have acted like gentleman, and an
opportunity Of getting out of an ugly
| affair with honor. II after thus ap-
preaching Pollard he refuses to give
Grant any satisfaction, there was then
clearly but one thing for Grant to do,
and that was simply to send Pollard 8
cartel aud have their friends arrange for
a meeting. Grant did nothing Of the
kind. He chose another method, which
was certainly neither brave, discreet, nor
magnanimous. BE preferred 10 be no
better than a common assassin. This
was not a case 10 which one man is au-
,horizsd or would be justified in killing
another wherever be could find him. II
was barbarous, il was horrible, and the
practice Of such methods Of redress
/ should be discountenanced by all good
men. The example to the yor ! Of the
county is most peTDicious and hur;ful.
Il is unjusiifable, ARd cannot be palli-
/ ated.
Il should be the aim Of the young men
Of the country 10 avoid such sets Of vio-
leuce. AZ general rule Il is always
we'll 70 give your enemies chance 70 get
cot Of a quarrel With honor, iesve him .
ieor-5ols, give him an opportunity Of ex-
PLANTATION or reiractiou; and when al
sscrts to bring him TO terms peaceably
haze failed, then yoa must have him out
with t;sssssi!- I'D Soffee some frosty morn
ing (est your breakfast frst), or IL be
threatens your life, and sEears he. will
kill you on sight. uby then you have
nothing 10 do but Kill him before be does
you. These exizencies, though, are rare,
- sl,.l1 ~awar .,rrur amonr veil hre1