The New York herald., 1870-03-20
THE W1LKES-LELAND AFFAIR.
MIR. Wilkes Statement.

From the Spirit or the Times
The incident which took place on Tuesday
last between the editor OF this paper and y :
w. W. Leland affords remarkable illustra-
said in our articles on the PHILOSOPHY OF
Journalism ana, at the same time furnishes direct
proof OF the unworthy motives which constantly
They regard all OF their own calling with ceaseless
suspicion ana rancorous jealousy, and seem to be
line escape them which may possibly do any one or
their own order any good. This dread Is the bug
bear which domineers their dealings with each
other and the practical result is that the press
any man OF any other call .ig even If he be OF the
most abandoned character, better than member OF
Our own case is direct proof In point and 1t is
only in thousand We have been member OF
the press Of this city Tor full twenty-five years. have
rarely had quarrel with any one Of the order, and
can number, among the managers and owners OF
the grea dailies, many whom we may reasonably
regard as our perlona frends-at least we have fre
qunt personal intercourse with them and they cx-
hibt towards US every evidence OF their personal
clent ability to maintain good rank In our v0ca-
ton, and by some with having done great pubic
sought fee, Office or reward. Towads the press in
particular we have always Deen champion. we
are the sole architect Of that law which protects the
press from being carried from county to county on
complaints for i0eiS published only In one, ana also
OF that other law which protects them IRON being
complained OF In tho secresy OF the Grand jury
without the preliminary privilege OF being heard
before q magistrate.
Besides this contribution OF protection TO them
through the law we have been to large extent the
bulwark which has prevented runlanism from hav-
ing its will, not only with the press, but with tine
known to the people OF this city, we have been re-
CURED to brave, day by day. for months the pistols
Of miscreans whose final suppression REQUIRED the
we, too had pistol and, having had the experience
that would use 1t, they kept themselves quiet as
we walked along. One OF them sued us Tor calling
him thief and we went into court with brave old
Judge Whiting for our counsel and justified our lbel
the ground that men Of his stamp had no charac.
ter which courts were bound 70 respect. This was
great case, and the verdict enured 10 the benefit or
the honest people OF New York.
There was every reason, therefore, In addition to
the first reason tnat were member OF the press,
why the journalists OF this city should notice with
fairness, II NOT with av0r. the trfng attempt at an
assault which Leland sought to make upon u.s. TO
lowing morning, with one exception, without hay
ing sent to our hotel TO ascertain the truth,
accepted the statements OF Leland and spread them
broad upon their columns the veritaDe history or
the affair. Now, In the very nature OF Lhings the
report OF any man who assumed to play the part
which Leland pretended to could not be correct
The story being against an editor, how
ever the reporters seized upon 1t with avidity as
marketable sensation, and whenever the Majors
fire slackened they supported 1t with embellishments
The headings OF these reports were actually jo-
cund. One read, George wilkes Caned by Major
Leland ~ another, George Wilkes C0whided p' and
all the emuOus writer's seemed to reach the point OF
ecsay when they got TO the thickness OF the knotted
bludgeOn and the showers OF blood which 1t had
evoked. Finding that al the papers haa made these
We IN our disgust met only That point OF the rela-
ton By few lines to each 70 the effect that 1t was
false We had been either marxed or nurt. We re.
gard the question as TO who mad the best OF 1t as
being very trivial in comparison to the view 1t gives
the public OF the feeling Of the press towards the
ana narrow policy Is now thoroughly sustained. The
press are welcome, however, to the course they
choose to follow H 1t opens them to danger that s
their own AFFAIR. But 1t ID no AFFAIR OF ours, as we
DrOtACC OurHe3f