New Orleans Republican., 1871-06-20
AN INCORRECT REMINISCENCE.

The discussion of public men as such,
censuring or applauding their conduct,
according as it is calculated to influence
the public welfare, is an undisputed pre-
rogative-aay, duty of public journal.
ism. The dragging before the public, in
the columns of a daily paper of private
individuals by name. except when such
a course is demanded by self-defense, is
an outrage on journalistic propriety which
no paper having any claim to respecta-
bility would deliberately commit. In ac-
cordance with these acknowledged prin-
ciples we have freely discussed the public
acts of Mayor Flanders, and censured
such as we deemed prejudicial to the pub
lie welfare, in the course of which dis
cussion it has become necessary to come
in conflict with his advocate, the New
Orleans Times. We are not aware, how
ever, that this discussion has ever
descended, on our part, into often
sive personalities, or the mention,
by name, of the responsible editor,
or publisher of that paper, however tempt
ingly vulnerable either might be- 1t was
not without surprise, therefore, that we
read the vulgar and offensive article
headed % "reminiscences, published in
yesterday mornings Times, wherein the
editor of this paper is mentioned by
name-a violation of propriety SO unpro-
voked and unwarrantable as to lead US to
believe that the article must be the work
of some maiciously disposed and ire
sponsible person, who has taken advant-
age of the confidence of the publisher,
and the temporary absence of the editor
of that paper, to make use of its columns
for the qualification of individual spite.
This is the more probable as the article
alluded to was based on a statement
which is notoriously without foundation
in proof of which we publish the follow
ing from an old and highly respected
citizen.
New ORLEANS, June 19, 1871.
To C. A Weed, Esq, Publisher of the New Orleans
Times
The statement contained in your paper of
yesterday, that w. K. Fish was, Fin those
dark days which preceded the advent of
Butler secretary to the Southern Rights
Association, is totally incorrect. Mr.. Fish
never was secretary of the association. The |
secretary, whose name it is unnecessary TO |
mention at present, surrendered himself to |
General Butler by my advice, as | knew |
that the latter was about to arrest another |
person, whose name resembled that of the |
secretary of the association. / make this |
statement as an act of justice. ALI the Off |
GERS were personally known to me, and |
every one in this community is aware that |
was the president of the association which |
you call the Southern Rights Association"
but whose true name was the Southern In
dependence Association.
remain, respectfully, your obedient ser
want, A MAZUREAU,
In corroboration of Mr. Mazureaus
if any be needed, we append
he following card of J. Q. A. Fellowes,
which was published in the Times in
April, 1867, and which was intended at
he time to refute the same calumny:
CARD.
In the testimony given before the COM
nittee on the New Orleans riots, it was
tated by me that Mr.. W. Z. Fish had been
ecretary of the Southern Rights Associa-
ion in this city during confederate times.
1aving since become satisfied that the state
nent was incorrect, feel called upon, in
lstice to myself as well as to him, to make
bis correction.
j. @. A. FELLOWES.
New Orleans April ., 1867