Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-08-09
BEHOLD THAT ER1GHrrUL STAB"

4 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
forfets all the respect and confidence of
its readers.
Hd1per'S Weekly has been recognized as
one of the most discreet and intluer" IN
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 "frightful stab," and a very
heavy blow. But Harpcr's Weekly has
not given him such " stab " rs our con-
temporary charges, and now we ask our
readers to see what au unfair trick it
has resorted to, in order to create such All
impression.
In the Press and Herald of the LIST, we
find the following editorial:
FRfGHTFUL STAB.
The tiercest of Grants assailants have not
dealt him more terrible blow than he receives
in the last Hdrper's Weekly, which is regarded
AS par excellence the national organ of 1.-THE
party OF great moral ideas" 1t acknowledges
the great decline of Grants popularity and
assigns reasons therefor the following Here
follows what processes 10 represent the estma-
ton Harper's Weekly entertains of the Presi-
dent, which the Press aud 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 nepotism, igno-
rance Indifference to real reform and progress
and political publication"
\ more comprehensive cpitome of utter worth
lessness and unftness for the Presidency could
hardly be nut forth. We doubt not the DeekIv
very best of opportunities for learning the fact
that the respectable and intelligent portion of
the Radical party are heartily ashamed ofGrant
rs their President.
Now to show how mean a trick this edi-
tor has been guilty of, our readers have only
to refer to Hupcr'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 dJore extract
which the Press and Herald gives and de-
liberately says is what Harper's Weekly
decline of popularity" Mr.. Curtis, in fact,
calls 'the sum of objections" put forward
by the Presidents enemies. What our CO.
temporary says are the views of Hdrper's
Weekly, it must have known were given
by that paper as the charges of the Presi
enemies. Here we have what seems to us
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
them to entertain such views Of President
Grant, and having called on our cotempo-
rary twice for an explanation aud receiv-
ing none, we feel we are not too fast in as
signing to it bad faith.
On the Goth July We published from the
very came editorial, not what Harpers said
were the views of the Presidents enemies,
but what their UieUs were, which were
briefly as follows:
THE general feeling that will pross fer his
| (Grants) 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
| fitted, the most threatening questions have been
settled, vital reforms have been begun, and the
! prosperity of the country secured by the con
! seriousness that peace would be maintained
| consciousness that would vanish before Demo.
| cratic success"
1t concludes for these reasons In fctUOr o.
his denomination,
Compare the two extracts from the sanie
article, and then say, reader, whether an
editor could have made such n misrepre.
sentation through mistake. If intention.
al, did he suppose intelligent readers SC
blindly partisan and interruptions as &c
think such trick smart?
Having exposed the trick we leave Ia,
public 10 pas, Judgment.
1T seems gs If wonders win never cease
An old gentleman of brooklyn, ". Y, o
no ordinary literary prctensons, and who
/ borders upon MISREPRESENTATION, the tim,