Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-09-12
For the Republican

Democrat of the 5th Of September a most
uncalled for and libelous attack upon me
For some reason to me unknown that pa
per has some particular spite at me-, and
many times during the past three years
has pub lished some articles referring to
me which seemed to me to be very bitter
and ungenerous, and has permitted others
to be published on one or two occasions.
But as l never suffer my personal feelings
to enter into controversies relating to re-
ligion or politics, I cannot consent to
speak of this last article as it seems to de
serve; but as gentleman, | must repel
the attack. 1t is easy to assume fact to
exist that does not exist and argue as if
! it did exist but such argument IS ground
less and the assumption unwarranted-
The active editor of the Democrat has
found himself between two fires OF his
own kindling and they scorch him on
both SIDES; and because | had written
some letters expressing my belief that he
would find himself in just this position,
he seems to blame me for his discomforts.
II is one of the great moral laws, that
when persons have placed themselves in
Il ldISB lb4Sltlt1D luCN DCCDllO Hpt OAilN Lt1-
lois but intolerant zealots; and void Of all
charity for those who differ from them
Persons who from long study and refiec
ton, by easy gradations, change opinions
they have radically advocated for others
they have disapproved, are liberal to those
of their former faith and not at all bigoted
against those who differ with them; but
in all cases. where sudden changes occur.
with men occupying. public positions,
either from time servingpOlicy or con-
versions under great excitement, the new
converts become selfish, intolerant, I'M
generous and blind to all honesty in those
who do not think as they think, ard fol
low their lead The temper is well ex
rpressed in the old song:
eBurnng zeal evermore heaps the faggot on the fire
And bigots ''rule the roast with persecution dire;
A bishop can roast poor Jew ike pigeon
And barbacue pagan like pig-for Religion
The editor of the Democrat is no eXcep
ton to the rule, and being under the in
auence of this law, perhaps, deserves some
sympathy But that does not excuse Inc
from repelling his attacks on me.
lie assumes wrote an editorial which,
he claims, appeared in the REPUBLICAN.
[ can assume he was hired and paid by
the Union League here to 90 for Greeley
10 insure the election of Grant and disgust
honest democrats; or any other fact do
not know To be true. / have as much
right as he has to assume that | wrote the
article he refers to.
He then charges direct that I am enga
gcd in editing the REPUBLICAN, as a part
of my regular duties
Now the editor of the D8m9crat knew
this charge WAS utterly false; and like his
other positions, simply an assumption.
lie would have been more consis, ent
in answering the arguments against him
in the article he SAYS tie REPUBLICAN
published. il there were any, instead OF as
. Suming and asserting as a fact. what he
knew was not fact. and seeking to divert
the attention of his readers.
He would show much better editorial
liability if he would explain his own incon
sistencics, instead of trying to show that
have been Inconsistent. He is protesting
to educate the people by publishing for
them the current news; by correctly re
fleeing the political opinions and history
Of the country as il exists and by giving
them weekly, his own views and advice
and he charges the people for it and takes
their money for it, and every man who
wishes his weekly collections as set out in
his paper must pay him for it. AS the
mouth piece of the dominant party
here, he demands and gets the county pa
tronage to the press for printing End the
/, peoples money pay for it. Then he ought
, to publish facts and not libels, and let the
education he diff'useS be reliable and not
, made up of falsehood and vituperation.
In 1870. | believed the Republican and
Democratic parties would divide, and |
feared dangerous coalitions | advised
that the Democratic party reorganize In
. 1871 knew those parties would divide,
and ere dividing. | still feared injurious
: and dangerous coalitions, and advised
the organization of new party, and pub
t lished my views of what thought its de
claration of principles should be. This
was my right. No one was bound to lis
/ ten to me or adopt my suggestions. |
was not paid for it. | was not seeking
place or preferment AS citizen | deem
ed it my duty; but did not cease to be a
democrat, nor cease to believe in demo-
cratic principles Because | could not
have my way did not abuse others, nor
libel any body by assuming as facts that
which had no existence. Time has
brought about just such state of things
| feared, and which urged the leaders of
the Democratic party to guard against and
, avert. In my opinion, by reorganiZa-
blOH Ill 1CtU Vi tlc DCIlOCldtlS par ~
would have been the most powerful now.
In my opinion, in 1871, such movement
was not possible; but had the democrats
re-organized as a new party, they could
nave controlled the organization and would
now have been the strongest.
In my opinion the Democratic party
disbanded at Baltimore in July, and the
Republican and Liberal parties, whether
Grant r Greely succeeds, will go to
pieces soon after the election in Novem-
Der. and any fixed organization then exis-
ting will stand better chance to become
the parry of the future than any organi-
zation to be formed thereafter. No 9th
er person is bound to entertain these
opinions, but being my opinions it was
my duty to act as my best judgment dicta
i ted; hence, as l could not have such an
organization as l wanted / was forced to
take such as | conld get The one that
goes nearest to what believe right, is the
one formed on democratic principles, and
f will select pure men to vote for. think
the one formed at the Louisville Conven-
ton did that, and hence, prefer it. But
how with the Democrat7 It's editor be-
lieved just as | did about the selection of
i, GraplaV al Ra1fippt,ro and he puubf If