Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-06
BEHOLD THAT FR1GHTFUL STAB

A newspaper has influence and charac-
ter just in proportion to the fairness and
vigor with which it conducts its contro-
versies One that misrepresents its Oppo-
nents and deliberately garbles extracts,
when detected in its INSCRIPTIONS warfare
forfeits all the respect and confidence OF
its readers.
Hmpcr'S Weekly has been recognized as
one of the most discreet and influential
of the newspapers supporting President
Grant If it had recently lost confidence
in him and admitted the truth of all the
charges of his enemies, it would indeed
have been a "frightful stab," and very
heavy blow. But Uarpcr'8 Wekkty has
not given him such stab 7" as our con-
temporary charges, and nov we ask our
readers to see what au unfair trick it
has resOrted to, in order to create such an
impression.
In the PresSldnd Herald of the lst, We
find the following editorial:
A TRIGHTFUL STAB.
The fercest of Grants assailants have not
dealt him more terrible blow than he receives
in the last Harper'S Weekly which is regarded
as par ccceLLence the national organ of " the
party of great moral ideas" 1t Acknowledged
the great decline of Grants popularity, and
assigns as reasons therefor the following Here
follows what processes to represent the estima-
ton Harper's Weekly entertains of the Presi-
dent, which the Press and Herald gives Jol-
lows:
''The quality of the Presidents friendships
the intimate influences which surrounded him.
the alienation of some men Of culture and high
character from his counsels, the appointment Of
certain unworthy officers, his passion for San
Domingo, what is called his nepotsm, igno-
rance, Indifference to real reform and progress
and political publication"
Amore comprehensive eptome of utter worth
lessness and unftness for the Presidency could
hardly be put forth. We doubt not the Weekly
feels the truth of what says for it has had the
very best Of opportunities for learning the fact
that the respectable and intelligent portion of
the Radical party are heartily ashamed ofGrant
a: their President ~
Now to show how mean trick this edi-
tor has been guilty of, our readers have only
to refer to Hdrper'S Weekly of 22nd July,
to the leading editorial presidential
Nominations" In that article, Mr.. Curtis
sums up the objections and charges of
Grants enemies and the above extract
which the Press and Herald gives and de
l.berately says is what Hdrper's Weekly
"assigaS as redSOns'' for "the Presidents
decline of popularity, Mr.. Curtis, in fact,
calls ''the sum of objections'E put forward
by the Presidents enemies. What our CO.
temporary says are the views of Hdrpcr's
Weekly, it must have known were given
by that paper as the charges of the Presi
enemies Here we have what seems to ms
must be an intentional Misrepresentation
and one of such great Importance that it
could hardly be an oversight.
The extract published by the Press and
Herald was taken out of the body of the
article, the first two and the last thirteen
words were left out, in order to aid the mis-
representation. We have stated that we
could find no extract in Harper's, showing
the n to entertain such views of President
Grant, and having called on our cotempo.
rary twice for an explanation and receiv-
ing none, we feslwe are not too fast in as
signing to it bad faith. Ef I-fa
Ga the eth July sue published from the
uery same editorial not what Harpers said
were the views of the Presidents enemies,
but what their Uie,Cs were, which were
briefly as follows: ,ar. tsa
1.-THE general feeling that will press fer his
(Grant's) denomination, is, that he is an honest
man who, whatever criticisms may be truthful
ly made in detail, sincerely wishes the public
welfare and seeks it. Under his administration
rights have been protected, burdens have been