The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-19
Mr.. Frothingham's Misfortunes.

The Rev. OCTAvIUs Is. FRoTHINGuAM is n
man sincerely to be piticd. He is preacher
and q public speaker, but somehow every
little while he has the bad luck TO be eyre.
giously interpreted by the press His latest
misfortune of this kind was on occasion of
the recent Harvard Club dinner He madc
| some remarks at that dinner which he in.
tended TO be highly humane and compass
sioDate toward the Indians, but which one
Of the editors Of the College Rtritr, who was
present. took in directly opposite sense, and
commented on in his paper accordingly.
This drew from Mr.. BUCKINGHAM note
TO the following purport:
" That the speech was utterly miseoneeived and
mlsreIresented l count az Of small importance
That, have learned. IL q mere matter Of course,
and am entirely resirned TO g. Even ridiculous
q MISREPRESENTATION. yours only provoked smile
speak In the interest OF culture should echo tic vile
aslersons Of the lowest Of the daily
press,
In reply TO this communication the editor
reiterated that he certainly did understand
Mr.. FRoTHING HAM to make the remarks
which were attributed TO him, and listened
TO them with pain that several other gen
mcrks in the same way hut that, desiring
never to do intentional injustice to any one
he cheerfully offered him the use Of his
columns, in which either 20 correct or vindi.
cate his remarks. This elected another and
longer ep!stle, 10 which, in addition TO setting
himself right on the Indian question. Mr.
FRoTHIS0nAN refers TO certain illusions in
the Retieo TO HE connection with the RICH
ARDeoSMoFARLAND marriage, after this
manner:
AT any rate to my faults OF logic, great small,
the brief and Casual reference hiatory alt that
had the slightest bearing on Il Indians. either as
followed may have been dd Rqnss1n'; but they had
not the rernotes, connection with the Aoo:isines.
liar on sSqS sS had . SS %sct you
my sterousy allu lie. You probably feel quite com.
pesnt to state precisely what tho views are Ed.
toriil omni.crnce has revesled good many secrets
respecting tier, OF late. But 'or my own part,
am not conscious Of entertaining, on any social
topics views hN deserve to es s.',-d peculiar IN
sn evil sense. For turposee of their own which
ibey best understand, enemies tried TO tAsen on me
obnoxious oIinione. You nust pardon ne II ex-
Iress amazemoht at seeing tie same thing eounIe-
nanced by journal liae you're"
IL will be observed that Mr. FRoTuINGuAM
here again complains of the press for misrc-
presenting him, but mentions no paper by
name II is evident. howcver. that he had
the New York Tribune In his mind. II was
the Tribune which first ullishcd his cele-
brated prayer in which he thanked the Al
mighty for what two adultorers had been 20
each other, and what they might he yet ;
aud il was the Tribune which published q
report Of his no less celebrated sermon on
elective aflinities, which gave everybody who
read 1t the impression that Mr.. FRoTnISG.
HAM favored the doctrines Of Free Love, not
in their coarsest, but still in very danger.
ous form. This was tho construction put
upon the sermon by Mr.. FRoIHINGHAM's
co. rcligionists Of the Libfrdl Christian =; and
when he wrote to them that the Tribune had
unsupported him, the Tribune Indignantly
denied the aspersion upon its accuracy, and
insisted that II had printed exactly what he
said
Certainly Mr.. FRoTHINoHAM has been
very unfortunate in his experience but his
conclusion that the press has any luminosity
against him is altogether illogical. II would
be far more reasonable in him 10 conclude
that Il 10 the uncertainty and incoherency of
his opinions, and his own imperfect method
Of expressing himself, which cause him to
be misunderstood. The press Las no interest
in telling anything but the truth, and, we
may add, rarely fails of doing so