Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-15

A London Comic paper not long ago did a
thing which was considered very hughablc. Il
headed one Of its pages with the two words we
have placed over this article The page was d.
yided into parallel columns, in which were given
the reasons and arguments of opposing parties
on the great questions which agtatc the English
public And both sides were given with perfect
fairness. There was no leaning in either diroc-
ton. On the Irish question the positions Of the
respective leaders, ID Israeli and Gladstone, were
most accurately stated The Ritual and the
Evangelical parties were each represented with
admirable fidelity, and thc intelligent reader was
able to compare for himself the merits Of the re.
spcctiye arguments, and Iairy judge the issue
between the opposing yiows.
Now ifridicullusness consists in oddly, there
is no wonder that England laughed over " Both
Sides" But still, we do not see why this fair
ness should be confined to the columns Of a comic
Journal. True enough, it is novel and odd that
"a paper should state the reasons Of an opponent
faithfully and truly. One Of the rarest virtues
is TO give correctly thcpOstion of an antagonist.
II is iar easier to attribute TO him perverted and
distorted differences Of his arguments. and show
ones skill by dcmoli-hing the man Of straw.
There is very little intellectual honesty between
polucal OF religious opponents y Colvinist al
ways answers on Arninian by mlS,tatIng his ar
gumehts' ana on Arminion poils the cause of the
Calyinist by defamation lt is impossible for a
hoinanist o. sec iorth the creed OF Luther or a
iiyacnthe' ana the well balanced mind is none
TOO common among Protestant polemics. And
VINO ever heard oil Republican dealing fairly
with DemocmtlcpIatlormsi ora Democrat setting
lorth the principles Of the Republican as he holds
themE 10 misrepie-ent an antagonist is the
easiest way OF putting HIM down, especially when
nc cannot answer Tor himself Therefore, while
inc temptation TO injustice Is 50 great, the in
stance Oh aosoiuteeqa' is impossible TO be found,
except ~ the pages OF comic paper.
ana we somewhat question whether a paper
mat should start ON the principle OF fairly repre-
sehung ooth sides would be paying institution.
for 40 not n'ne subscribers ont OF ten take pa
PCT because 1t comedies with their views, and
answers oonclusNely the opinions to which they
u'o oiloscu' Ihey want their editor TO give the
opposite party m politics or religion good, hard,
"hi'h the opinions they dislike shall be beabored
ana distorted and smashed. They are not partic-
ular whether the blows are fair or foul, provided
they tell II men should have game of wrest-
ing or rowing or baseball or cricket, they would
INSIST onJa" play' but when 1t comes to an intel
Ieclu'u tournament the Jous count as well as the
j"VS' l"ero Is no hesitation IN pounding man
even al'er ne Is down. Nnen he has thrown up
'"o sponge - the signal Tor a new onset
LAKE peocuer ior instance We 90 not espe-
o'ai'y uulniru MS Judgment, nor follow his doc
'llhes' lie Is rash, mpetuous, mpudent ora
'or careless silp-shod thcologian and an
su'".ou' un"'lan'eu man. lie goes like an
alarm clock we have. For weeks it will run as
''''''''y ''u qu'e.y us any tnepiece' and inspire
'ne greatest nope IN ITS valuable services for the iu-
lure Hltn renewed confidence IN 1t we wind up
we ul"'i trusting tnat at SIX clock precisely 1t
W, WIN Jostie US out oil bed But at midnight the
is''iiou 'l'ug rings ana rings ike the very evil
'"e' ''il every sleeper IS awakened and torn into
,''l''S WIN It's phtlneiy music 80 Beecher, fit
"a anu '"oo''sU'n', Is forever Disappointing the
'''s' lo iis''os ana rings ms friends QUITO their
'Poso Nl'n unse'soiaole Vagaries' but yet he
: generous Us ne is mpuls!'e' as ready to apollo
s'@o ror MS racket as he Is to make 1t. lie bur-
leu OH 70 marry Mrs. Mcfarland, an Indiana
''uo", TO hiehardson' lfi6nHe editor. lie
lever inquired rs to the validity Of her divorce,
lof as 70 the proprlety OF the marriage. While
richardson stood on The . banks OF the heavenly |
anu ne gave ms benedlction to an unholy |
hloh' Ills sympathles were excited by partial
mteneht oil the lacts IN the case. lie only read
ne ifi0"Hei ana consulted with Its editor. Act
ng on sneh partial statements he married dying
nirlguer to really undiyorced wife. If he had
osted himself on both sides he would have been
lyed IRON such prostitution of his office. But
ow be has learned both sides, he has the manli-
ess 10 state that he was deceived, that if he
al known then what he knows now he would
ave cut his hand of thousand times sooner
han he would have performed that bad cere-
lony'
We give Mr. Beccher the benefit Of his repen-
lnce and apology. While we cannot wonder at
he facility with which he gets into scrapes, we |
him for his honest attempts to get out
t them. He is singular specimen of the folly |
f one who acts before he looks at both sides"
f he had not trusted his Judgment to the guild |
nee Of the Tribune he would have been saved
rom the miserable result which he has reached
n this matter. As it is we have far more re-
'nu Is sorry ioI ~ 'n"n loF inton' oil the Inde-
10 see n paper ON one side of n one.tion and vat