Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-11-30
A Reconciling Conscience.

"oen, uses thls very singular
language:
GAS We have said before, and as
the editor of the Herald very well
knows, we have nothing against him
personally"
He also says in his personal ar
ticles that, 1--WE spoke for the people
of Platteville in regard to his Covers
actions"
The plain meaning of the Witness
editor then is, that he has nothing
against us personally, but that the
people of Platteville give him the
laws for his government as an edit
or and that when he charges men
with official corruption and conduct
which if true should sink them too
deep in infamy to allow resurrection
the people of Plattevile did 1T and
are responsible and not himself.
This very singular Sinking of re-
sponsibility reminds us of the Illinois
Judge who was great caterer to
the public opinion. In sentencing q
man to be hanged whom most people
believed to be innocent, the Judge
said, "Now John, upon what day
would it be your pleasure to be
hanged and mind yon, it is not my
self that requires you to be hanged,
but the law and the jury are respon-
sible."
This remarkable confession Of ed
itorial loss of identity and manhood
is perhaps without exact parallel
A man may so localize his thoughts
and affections as not to think abroad
and may SO narrow his circle Of
friendships as to look upon outsiders
as mere charlatans; but TO hold his
narrow circle of friends responsible
for his own editorial works would be
like general who should hold his
soldiers responsible for the losses OF
battles designed by himself, The
words of the Witness are as follows
"He, (Cover,) spoke for himself in
regard to the actions of the people
of Piatteville. We spoke for The
people in regard to his actions.
And in speaking for them he charg
ed us with dishonorable acts--hold
ing them responsible for the charge
but letting himself out by claiming
he has nothing against as personality
Of course then the people of Platte
vile entertain something against US
personally, to wit: charges of dis
honor, corruption, &c. The Wines,
then supports a sort of Chinese curl
osity shop, exclusively for China
men.
We much prefer a more liberia
view Of the editor of the Witness
that he is more Of man than b.
claims to be; and that when b,
charges any one with acts corrup
and dishonorable without a shade o
proof, he does it in PtckO'ckial
sense.
But the editor Of the WitaeS
claims that he has letter we wrot,
to some one, in which there is ev;
dence of what he has charged. Ant
be thinks our refusal of consent tt
its publication for reasons stated
must be taken for proof of our guilt
AS already stated, said letter wa
not designed for publication for tn
reason that the names of parties
their official positions, details of cor
versations, &c, are given and
would be exceedingly imprudent
not an act of dishonor to publish TIL
like. Hundreds of persons in tn
county have written letters unfit 70
publication, but which if publisne
mightsclear themselves from hurtfr
charges. Now. the letter alluded t
is just such letter. If published
would clear us Of the charge of col
ruption, selling out, &c. Yet even {
accomplish that purpose, we shou!
not consent to its appearance in print
We have already advised the edito
of the Witness to get hold of lette
in question, and show it to anybod,
he has a mind to-especially thos
deceived INTO a belief of reports h
has published. Also, show it t,
those who do not credit the charge
of corruption and selling out, ant
may be he can make it appear tina
he is right, and thus fix the guilt up
on us, where he desires above al
things that it shall be fixed. Tbs
receiver of said letter knew it con
tanned matter not at all appropriat,
for publication, and that he had M
honorable right to permit it's u.s.
that way. But if we remember
he had written permission to show
the same TO friends. He is an hon
orable and honest man, so reckoned
but during the late election was ,
leading sore-head. We have q copy
of the part of the letter reported a
damaging, and it exactly correspond
with our published statements.
!