, 1872-06-26

permission OF the P~olicemaster, who Was
not present. The attempt to get 1ntorma-
ton from this source wa then given up,
as, probably, the PolicemaSter, like Mr..
Anthem, was afraid of giving too much
authenticity to Newspaper articles. In
the meantime we had received the
article which contained what information
we required, and as there was nothing of a
libellous nature in it, we could not, accord
ing to our programme, suppress either the
whole or any portion Of it. We believed
then, and are still of the same mode OF
thinking, that the more light thrown on all
matters the better for the parties concern
ed. There are, however, several parts OF
this subject which require a little more
light, f. in. this which of the two asser-
tions, the Judges or the Policemaster's,
we are to refer to Mr. Anthon's category"
that of the latter who sends in to Govern
ment the substance ola "Gallery-conversa-
tom in which he makes the Judge say
that "there are SO many lies and so much
nonsense published in the Avis etc., or
that of the latter who says in Council that
the conversation is incorrectly reported.
Until more light is thrown on this part,
we may be allowed to view it in u own
light. Reserving further remarks on this
question, we desire at the present stage to
offer a few remarks on anonymous writing,
which seemed not to be appreciated at its
true value by the interpellant at least, or
perhaps the despotic tendency eyinced by
this dislike is not peculiar to him. Ger
tain it is that anonymity is the very essence
ola free and useful press. Itpermits men to
write when they would fear to speak.
Anonymous writing is a surer guarantee
against injustice and oppression than any
form of government could be. Even the
most liberal and popular executive yields
fearful instruments Of quiet and insensibIe
tyranny, which the victims Of them can
neither escape nor re list, but which they
may express and bring to shame. In
stances of harshness and iniquity every day
occur, and which would have no chance of
hearing or redress, were it not for that tri-
bunal which is always open gratuitousIy
and to every complainant. Neglected
or unrewarded merit, which can obtain no
audience from men in power; long services
which have been discarded or superseded
to make way for favourites sufferers I'M
der unjust and brutal exertions of undenia-
BILE power ;-all these can make their APP
peal to a Judge whose authority is the
greatest, and to a court whose publicity is
the widest among us. An anonymous
writer has no advantage over his opponent.
He merely chooses a field in which a pow
erful opponent can have no advantage over
nina fair field and no favor. He may
be as easily answered and refuted as if he
signed his name, and he will he heard al
ways under protest. For his opponent to-
skulk and lie in ambush, therefore, to talk
of anonymous writing, to abuse his adyer-
sary for choosing equal arms, is but one OF
the shifts and contrivances Of conscious
weakness and error. 1t is a mere coward
ly begging the question. What have names
to do with facts or reasons" But we hear
it asserted that men in high positions can
not condescend to answer anonymous &C
cusations. This is however untrue. They
always condescend to answer if they have
anything to say. If not, they look out for
some plausible fallacy to cover their
silence and confusion. In the present In
stance only the chain was not found and
consequently could not be weighed, every
thing else has been carefully weighed and
measured, and q great and solemn white