, 1870-05-10

tno moral characters, social habits, and
pr7Vase Lives Of thar prominent neighbors,
tho !"big buss" Of society. Tbs
newspaper thst supplies this informa-
ton may b {alse or scandalous,
but it can never be stupid or dull. Is this
appetite for newa concerning the moral
weahessas and shortcomings Of othars to
be wholly condemned7 Il it is we'll to be
interested in the abstract mozaities, why
not in the concrete? How is it possible to
feel an interest in the purity Of the clergy,
aud be Indifferent to the elopement of Rev.
Horace Cooke, the gin and milk pa,t.ken
by the Rev. G. B. Smythe under e1hsus-
tion, or the afdiction Of the Cincinnati min
lister who has weakness for kissing his
young 1ady oonvers7
AL admit that in such cases, society
should, in self-defence, impale the impru-
dences Of the professed teachers of pru-
dence, and hold up their shortcomings for
public reprobation- The press must be
indulgcd in some liberty Of discussion rela-
tive to the personal habits of all whose
position as Legislators, public officers, or
leaders Of opinion, renders their personal
character influential in society, for good or
evil Il u public journal confines itself to
the truth, OF that which it has reasonable
ground to believe to be true, it renders
service to the public by its exposures Of
charlatanism and depravity in public men,
as By any other species Of newB. Mankind
have mora fresh and perpetual interest in
character than in events or abstract theo-
ries. Any news affecting it has dramatic
interest, and We await its unfolding as
eagerly as We watch the development of
drama or \ novel A newspaper is held to
the same degree Of truthfulness relative to
matters affecting character as relative to
other facts or events, If its exposure Of
character is made in the interest Of public
morals, and is based upon facts, it goes to
its mark, and skaters the target-
If based upon falsehoods, or upon
morbid curiosity, OF personal malice,
it rebounds and Injuries the
ca1umniator rather than the victim The
chief objection to ali such squabbles Is not
so much their personality IS their e1aggera-
| tons and malicious inferencea Mr.. Young,
for instance, by quoting an articla fFoaa tho
Chicago Repu6licune for whose appearances
Mr. Dana was not responsible, in connec-
ton with letter to Andrew johnson, which
he did write, makes him appear to have
| applied 10 Andrew johnson by letter for the
| appointment of Collector of the Port Of
New York, and then denounced the Presi.
dent in his paper for attempting to bribe
him with that Office. Whatever may have
been Mr.. Dana's offences, this was no
among them. So the offences charged b.
Mr.. Dana, or his scribblesa, against Mr.
Young, whether true or false, have actual1,,
rccoilcd against those who chnrged them.
Such exaggerated and evidently uncandi
efforts to use the press az means Of at
taching to others stigma which they d
not deserve, very rarely have the sightes
success. After their vapo1ings have ha
their full effect upon public opinion, il
| found that some of the best abused me
living are among society's chief ornaments
and that men who "sling ink" with yicior
reckIessness have warm and generous sent
HeuB Ii tueH oosoluo7 Au4 ouIy aeeu Il
be civilized to become useful members {
society. They do not believe the objec
OF their wrath are half ns y1l{anous aa tht
have painted them, and, if little mo-
, amenity of Language prevailed, it would
, found that the real difference about whi<
+ these hot quarrels are wased between Il
r rival editors of Etansxiu is some min
! matter OF taste, habit, or judgment Whit
/ ! does not seriously compromise the moru
of either party.