The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-26
The Assistant RsarsElals.
THE AMENITIES OF JoUnSA1IsM.
lot now speak.

he AAENIi1ES Of JOURNALISM
Soon after the appointment of the AS
sistant Marshals for this Comfy an edit
orial appeared in the Kenosha Union
speaking derogatively Of the appointees
One, feeling himself aggrieyed asked an
opportunity to reply, and hereply ap1
peared in the TELEGRAPH of the 28th Of
April In the Union of the 5th inst. an
article appeared with the following head
ing: COMMUNICATION following
is a composition written by one Of our
grammar school boys" with the name
"WALLIE" subscribed to it.
This article, without mentioning any
name, was designed to be personal and
abusive, and excited the indignation of
the one against whom it was directed
An opportunity to reply was again asked
and given. The reply written under
deep feelings of indignity, was, in our
opinion, Objectionable in manner and
matter. It was withdrawn, modified, re
turned, and submitted 10 us to publish it
or not as we might think best. We think
it best not to publish it, for various rea-
sons. /. Notwithstanding the intended
personal abuse Of the article of the Union,
in our judgment, it is not worth the
notice. that is taken of it. 2. The com,
municatioE is more than reply to the
Union's article. 1t makes personal at
tack upon the character of the editor OF
the Union as derogatory as the Uni0ass
article was upon his. How far a. journal
ist should give the opportunity of reply
to personally abusive article is not very
we'll determined. A paper, admitting al
abusive article, editorial or other, oughi
in all Justice, to admit defence. And
where an attack is made by partisan
paper upon an officer of opposite politics
the opposite party paper should allow
the officer an opportunity to defend him
self.5 But how far he should be allowed
in his defence, to attack the persona
character of his opponent, is not clearl.
settled. We feel inclined to coufine thu
replysto. the subject and matter. of the at
tack, and thus keep the TELEGRAPH a
clear from personal abuse as possible
But, it is said that, by pursuing thi
course, it encourages the editor of tn
Union to continue his personal abuse
knowing that, however vulnerable he ma,
be himself, we will rot allow him to o.
shown up in the PELEGRAPH. How IA
our refusing admission to attacks upol
the personal character of the editor of tn,
Union, may encourage him to make anC
admit attacks upon the characters 0
others, we know not For the present
we prefer to call his attention TO th'
amenities of Journalism and what is du
to the public, rather than to admit an.
personal attacks upon his character, w
are aware that, by SO doing, we give dis
satisfaction to some, but we shall not de
part from it, unless the attacks becom,
SO persistent and gross that a departure
from it would seem to be clearly indica
ted in justice to those who may be at
tackled. And we hope, and even trust
that no such necessity may arise.
In connection with this subject we tax,
the following article from the Saint 10
seph 7raceIer :
In the conduct of a public journa
there are necessary amenities to be OBJ
served, which are at once important boti
to the public and the publishers. The
press, as an engine of public education
owes the duty Of elevation TO the public
st large, while the editors Of newspapers