New-York tribune., 1870-02-05
DEFAMATION OF PUBLIC MEN.
GEN. sCHENCK's HOUSE.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: 1t was the vocation of the most abandoned
writer's of the French Revolution to libel and ira
duce every public man who evinced desire to pro-
mote the public good. Stigmatizing these writers,
Burke observed They have tigers TO fall upon ami
mated strength they have hyenas to prey upon car
cases the sanctuary of the tomb is not sacred to
them; they deny even to the departed the sacred
immunities of the grave. Their turpitude purveys
to their malice and they unpumb the dead for bull
lets TO assassinate the living"
The same spirit seems to animate many of those
who control the public press of this country and it
is melancholy fact that the papers thus controlled
sometimes secure the widest circulation. Charges
are often made against public men, affecting their
character, upon the merest ramOr put afiOat to
crafty the malevolence of a personal enemy. II
only the base believed what the base have written
the injury would not be great but unfortunately,
many honest credulous men give credence to the
SANDER The retraction by the writer not sufi-
cient reparation because many who read the sander
never see the retraction A member of Congress
may devote his days and nights to the preparation
of laws for the public good to receive as his only
reward, imputations upon his motives in thus dis
charging his duty to his country. He is charged
with legislatng for his own pecuniary advantage.
or that of special friends
Here are some paragraphs from recent number of
The Indianapolis Journal:
1.-THE country need expect very little from the Ways
and Means Committee, while t is under ITS present n
ence Gen Schencks Is not redOlent with fumes OF
the most perfect honesty The Hdtn0 (OhlOl Ie1tgdph
Where he got his money to buy that 900
Washington CITY while but year ago he stumped his
The Telegraph cannot understand Just how he became
I'm addition to this, which savors OF Capital
pam al fact that Gen SchenCk In favor
OF a raise Of the tax on whisky does not appear
qs the b, 9s Gr e Sa doe
the Ways and Chairman justice he is In favor OF
P9.ne Sstx hS sSi 9 red the and for
tunes made and given away within the charmed
times as much revenue Is raised Gen schenck, the
puted head of the policy Of the lower House. favorable
70 return the Old days Of corruption small revenue
and large fortunes"
Now, as TO facts Gen. Schenck is the author OF
the law taxing whisky as it stands on the statute
book-labored for its perfection and adoption, and
has never intimated wish to have it changed He
believes il to be as perfect as il is possible TO make
it, and will stand by it. Gen. Schenck is a widOwer.
and has been for many years lie has the care of
three daughters, and, being compelled to sell his
lrome al DAYTON, Ohio. he determined to bring them
here where his public duties require him to be. He
deemed il better to keep house than to board 50 he
purchased house in Washington City. He paid for
il by giving some County bonds and several vacant
lots in Washington (which he had owned more than
a dozen years. in exchange for IT.
Is il not shameful that private business transac-
ton of this sort should be seized upon for the pur
pose of attempting TO murder the reputation CT one
of our best and most useful public men IL cannot
injure Gen Schenck with those who tke the present
writer have known him for many long years to be
an honorable honest, and highminded gentleman.
IL ia only because all who may read the above lnpn-
tations do not know him that this article has been
written. d.
RssAssssses. Jas. 1. lS7a