The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-24

peared in one Of the most prominent repub.
lIcan newspapers in the country, and one Of
the most prominent democratic newspapers
in the country, assaults upon the ex.confed.
crate, Jacob Thompson, and assaults upon
the present radical, Daniel +. Sickles, of such
a character that it is both proper and inter.
esting to make inquiry as TO whether they
are within the limits Of the censorship which
the press ought TO exercise IN dealing with
men who are, or have been, in public life
The neighbors and friends Of Thompson,
| upon his return to Mississippi few days
| ago, gave him public reception, and as 10
the American fashion, be made speech -
! IL was Of such q temperate character a. To
| win commentator even from the republican
newspaper referred 90 above, bat the OCCASION
was seized by it to revive dSproyed charges
against Thompson, concerning an alleged
completely with the taking Of sundry bonds
from the treasury when member Of the
cabinet, and connection with a conspiracy
10 burn certain cities in the northern states,
during the. war, and to introduce the small.
pox into them. II said these stale and re.
futed SANDERS were "shsle5 against the
character Of Thompson
Were he a candidate for office, aud again
busy as a politician, such an assault on him
would be contemplate, because It would be-
Ru effort to crush him BY caumny ana
fasehOOd. No one can now be made TO DO
leve that he had anything to DO with the
real or pretended plot with which BLACK
| burn, hy turns. amused and alarmed the
country. Any charge OF Thompson com
| phcIty with such plot gaIus no more ere
| dence NJ this time than the one that Jet,
! Davis knew % ( aud encouraged Booth IN
tep,fou 10 mu rider President Lincoln. As
! Tbomp.Ju is now in private life, and pro.
claims his intention to perform every duty
A. citizen, the assault IS, by this fact, az |
grayated in It's maIevolene. The public IN. |
tercsts DO not require iba. bis history, wheth. |
er good or bad, be brought 70 light and |
made the subject Of comment.
As regards SiCkgs, tho case 10 different.
lie is politician md a wire.worker. lie
is a leader in the dominant party, aud his
couuse,s and influence have much weight |
in determining the course OF that party |
he has lately been appointed minister to |
SPAIN and our relations with her at the !
present time require that we should have an !
adroit diplomatlst and honest man at her |
court II is not only the privilege, but the |
duty, Of the press to inquire If SIckies |
ought to be chosen for the spanish mission, |
and publish such facts IN his history as
bear upon this question.
Care should be taken, however, 20 pub. !
lish only facts. 10 revive aud publish sus
pcons and rumors calculated to bIackcn !
his reputation and make It Infamous, IN the |
absence ofproof that the suspicious are just |
and the rumurs true, Is 10 prostitute The |
power Of tho press, and make Of 1t an IN.
slrumeut for the qualification Of personal |
and partisan passion. Sickle. is an able |
and uas rlpulous man, and there are pIen
~ Of acts which he has done, and with |
which the public are well acquainted to |
prove that be ought not to have been ap |
pointed 1t is not necessary TO resort to
iusiuuatonl, and hint Of dark and revolt
ing crimes IL bis case 70 show that the up
pO.ntmeut IL discreditabe to the President,
aud insulting 70 the nation.
f. !, % fact conceded GA all 7,d,s, that OF |
Gcin. corruption now prevails IA thu c0uu !
try to an extent which ought TO alarm every !
man who wants order, aud honesty, and |
statesman hip 20 control in our government,
but thus fact will not Justify he press in
making assaults Of the character above dc
scr5ed upon corrupt politicians. To tell
the exact truth Of them, and faithfully por
tray their character and their acts, is all
that is required by policy or Justice.