New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-17
Truthful John CrOvyguiiI.


| The Tiibune's Professor of Journalism,
like Rev. Mr.. Chadband, of oily memory,
processes high regard for truth. Mr.. Chad
band was fond of speculative inquiries into
the nature of truth, though we are not told
| that he ever arrived at truthful definition
I of the object of his alteration. The Profess
sor, more fortunate than the metaphysical
preacher has been able to show us what he
| considers perfect example of truth, Illus
trated by the assertions of q perfectly truth
full man. Let no one hereafter doubt that
the Professor is unable to distinguish be-
tween truth and falsehood. He certainly
knows a truthful man when he sees him,
and such an one he has recently held up to
the admring gaze of the readers of the
Tribune.
Truthful "John Crowguilp'-which is the
name assumed by the Professors ideal of a
truthful man-on Friday published letter
in the Tribune, describing the woes which
have been inflicted upon him by the Admin
istratiOn in his humble capacity as clerk to
a Revenue Assessors Office. Speaking in
behalf of himself and his fellow-clerks, he
asserts that their bodies are attacked "by
subjecting them to hunger and cold" Moth
ing but Providence will prevent them "from
starving to death" until November next.
This hideous hunger and this prolonged pro-
cess of continual shivering during the mild
days of the coming October, are due neither
to the parsimony of clearinghouse keepers
in point of hash, nor to the violence of chlls
and fever. 1t is the wicked Administration
which thus fiendishly attacks the bodies of
its revenue officials The cause of this bru-
tai conduct is evident. Since General Grant
has, as the Tribune tells us, no supporters
outside of the ranks of Office-hOlders, it is
only natural that he should thus shower his
favOrs upon them. Such has been the uni
form course of ambitious rulers who de-
sired to court any particular class of the
people in order to win their gratitude and
affection. The oilice-holders are, we are
told, enthusiastic in support of the Republic
can ticket. What else could be expected,
since they have been bribed with hunger,
and bought with cold? This is the lavish
way in which the tyrant pampers his luxu-
riOus pratOrians.
But Truthful John Crowquill does not care
so much about his starved and shivering
body as he does about the safety Of his per-
sonal soul. With awful solemnity and really
dreadful eloquence, he assists that the Adj
ministratiOn ATTACKS our souls, andmay well
be called, without exaggeration, a league
with hell" is my language" John goes
on to ask, too strong ?' We should rather
think not. No one but Mr.. Greeley himself
has sufficient command of the cursing vO-
cabulary to supply language strong enough
to do justice to the public scoundrels who
thus attack Mr.. Crowquill's private soul.
Unequaled meanness, as well as unparalleled
malignity, must inspire the fiend who would
attack so very small soul as that which
Mr.. CroWquill leads us to suppose is now
trembling in his presumably manly form.
The exact manner in which the soul of
Crowguill is attacked is as follows: He is
compelled to subscribe, out of salary of
81 200 per year, twenty dollars to every State
committee on the occasion of every State
election. There being thirty-eight States in
the Union, the amount of his annual contri-
buttons is thus seen to be no less than 500,
leaving his income only $40. Even this
small sum the Assessor, who has levied these
contributions upon him, refuses to pay until
the wretched CrOwquill has sworn that the
Assessor has made no such levies. OF this
atrocious conduct the Professor remarks, in
his able way: Gas further refinement of
meanness and tyranny, he is compelled to
take an oath that he has not assigned to the
Assessor any of his salary, which is a false
hood and perjury. The writer is person
ally known to us as truthful man. and his
statements can be implicitly believed"
Here we arrive, by way of Mr.. Crowquill's
suffering body and outraged soul, to the
Professors definition of truthful man. Some
one under an assumed name tells prepos-
ferrous story, and moreover, admits that he
is in the monthly habit of deliberate perjury.
The Professor emphasizes the point that this
man frequently takes an oath (which is a
falsehood and perjury" and in the same
breath asserts that he is personally known''
to him, as a truthful man, and his state
ment can be implicitly believed"
Let us, my friends" the Professor will
probably say in his next lecture on Journal
ism, inquire, in the spirit of love, what is a
truthful MANI" And thereupon, answering
his own question, after the habit of lecturers
he will point to q lifesze picture of Mr..
"John Crowquill taking an oath (Which is
falsehood and perjury" and he will
blandly say, " Behold truthful man, whose
statements, when not under oath, can be i'm.
plicitly believed" 1t is quite evident that
John Crowqull is the Professor himself The
| character fits him to II. For he is always
inventing gross untruths, committing news,
paper perjury, and then boasting that he is q
truthful man. The Professor has trick Of
writing letters to hmself-likc that Other
poor creature, Doolittlc. Why not give his
next lecture under his alias of John Crow
! quill 2-New York Times.