Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-16
Rev. WIN. Va parry on Toh,cco

To the Editor Of the Spy: Dear sir-Imme-
diately upon my return home this evening, |
found your report Of my speech at "the West
boro convention" upon the tobacco question. |
find that it conveys some impressions entirely
antagonistic to my reiterated statements, and
by so much is calculated to mislead those who
were not present. The more readily, am con-
WINGED, you will find space for this brief correc-
ton, inasmuch as there can be no desire on the
part of the Spy to misrepresent my speech at
Westboro. ] am too deeply impressed with my
masters injunction, "Judge not" TO advert to
the apparent onesidedness of the report, or to
more than incidentally refer to its authorship,
illustrations of whose preseience and inspiration
are manifest in the statement that Several
members WERE READY with questions to ask
of the speaker" etc. | have been a member of
the newspaper craft TOO long to complain of my
fellow craftsmen, and well know that as a rule,
they are just and impartial in their reports; but
occasionally, through no desire on their part to
misrepresent, inaccuracies of the gravest nature
creep into their reports. Upon all such occa-
siOns my extensive acquaintance with the press
OF my own country warrants the assertion that
the craft are ever willing and ready TO allow the
misrepresented 10 explain. In the firm conf.
dcnce that the sister press Of the United
States is in this respect not one whit behind the
English press, ] address my corrections 10 YOU
The report states took the tobacco side"
implying that | recommended and advocated lis
use. The conference well know that more than
once asserted that few, even amongst the most
inveterate of smokers, could be found who
would, for its oDn sake, defend, much less adyo-
cate, its use; and that smoker and nou-smoker
alike agreed in branding smoking as an useless
and expensive habit. And yeti "tOok the tobacco
side!" But grayer mistakes occur in the re-
port ] am represented as advocating the use
of tobacco upon what / should characterize as
eminently immoral grounds namely, under the
sanction of "Doing in Rome as Romans do"
There was not a single person present but who
knows that such a statement never issued from
my lips; and further that, in no connection
whatsoever, did quote that mean-souled and
cowardly maxim. So much am | opposed to
following the example Of the dastardly Romans
of proverbial memory, and vino happen
TO belong to all natonalities, that
here | willingly aud gladly for my mas
ter's sake and for the good of souls, did
otherwise than Romans do; for espoused the
unpopular side and vet think had been mean
enough to be uniaithful to my highest con-
ylctions in order to curry favor, aud swim like
dead fish with the current, could, fatter my
sell, have spoken as glibly and unctiously upon
the anti-tobacco question as any who took up
CuuSels on mat side OF the question at the
WestDorO' conference. ] ask not TO debate the
question, but 10 correct miscellaneous. The
whole conference knew that | never once re-
felred to the milk sop and unprincipled Romans,
who, despite my hatred Of them, have vet MANY
disciples. Another statement is entirely pcof-
rect, namely: cat his request the usual limit of
time restricting the other speakers was sus
pended" &c, | said nothing about the time of
other speakers, but simply stated that if the con.
ference wished 10 hear me, inasmucb as no lin.
tatlon of fifteen minutes was men toned to me
when ] was asked to undertake the opening of
this question: ] should not speak under that
Limitation. It was then moved and carried, not
at my request, but by the choice OF this alter.
native Of the conference, that so much time as
required should be granted me-a simple act
Of justice, and the deliberate choice of the con.
ference.
Your report represents me as Immediately
leaving at the conclusion Of my speech, and re-
iusng TO answer questions. This charge, as il
implies eowardice, repel with the greater yehe-
mauce; but Its Discrimination will be statement
Of facts. So far from Striking questions, even
during my speech | encouraged them, paused
ior them, and answered them. After | had re.
sumed my seat patiently listened to the next
speaker and when be had closed | arose aud
SAID mat, lnasmucl as, instead of dealing in ar
guneht tue speaker had personally insuted
me- twhcn insult will not repeaD, and mas
much as ! had, out Of a desire 10 Oblige the
Young Mems Oh stiau association, fOregone
certain engagements, aud had even then other