, 1872-09-05

than ordinary theft. and lacks in moral
obbliquity neither of these crimes.
r." A certain man went down to
Jericho and fell among thieves" He
has returned, somewhat demoralized and
mortified by the contact. but not utterly
degraded, as is manifest by the fact that
the association WAS dissolved after a very
short experience. Our readers who are
acquainted with the circumstances need
not be told that we allude to our respect
ed fellow townsman, W. W. Theobalds,
Esq, who for some months past has
been employed at Olympia in editing
the organ of the Federal ''ring." The
experiment proved that a. square man
cannot be fitted to round hole, and he
has been superseded by H.. G.. Struxe,
whose habits of adaptation are much bet
ter calculated for the place. And this
reminds us of an incident in our West
ern. experience: A Yankee store-keeper
started business in a Western town with
two young kinsmen for clerks, respect
lively named Nat. and Eliab. He had
occasion to sue customer on an nc
count which was disputed, and called
tho younger Of the two to testify to its
correctness. The boy had some idea of
the sancity of an oath, and hesitated to
say he knew of the delivery of the goods.
whereat the trader became greatly en-
ragged and exclaimed. "stand. aside
stand aside I will call Nat; he has the
moral courage to do it ~
Mr.. Theobalds had the education and
moral training of gentleman, and bore
the reputation of a man of integrity
among his neighbors. Being devoted
patty Republican, he cheerfully engae-
ed to edit what he supposed to be Re-
publican paper; and from his former as
believing that persons holding
high official positions were governed by
some sense of honor, he readily accept
ed their statements as true. and endors-
ed them as such through the paper, and
hence became editorinlly responsible for
Ferry's story of the thirty Democrats. -
and his denial of the report of the Seat
tie conf renee to substitute Judge Jacobs
on the ticket for Garfelde, and the i'm
piled denial that Garfelde owned q
house in Washington, and several other
like Misrepresentation which he be-
lieved solely on Ferry's authority. But
when he was called upon to invent facts.
and testify to matters of which he had
no knowledge, he was not equal to the
task, and was required to stand aside for
Struve, who has the moral courage to
do it.
Without formally announcing his
withdrawal from the Courier, Mr.. Theo-
balds publishes IN article on the Mis-
sion of the Press, so just in sentiment
and SO entirely different from what the
managers of that paper expected of their
editor, as to clearly show that he was
not the right man in the right place.
We have room only for a short extract
"Again, in the work Of criticizing'
how little do just rules Of thought and
taste guide the utterances of the press
Even bare truth and simple justice are
lost sight of, and instead of laying evil
deeds, low tastes, false assertions, and
bitter personalities prostrate, by the
power Of high examples and noble ex-
pressions, there is rather vieing with
each other to see how much bitterness
of ire and vindictiveuess Of persona!
malace can be crowded iuto the fewes'
and most venomous words possible. In
stead of emulating each other in the
strife after excellence. the contest is to
see who can descend lowest into the
muddy stream of billingsgate and abuse.
And then o certain class of the public.
those who are the noisiest and cry the
loudest, stand by, and applaud !! This
is all simply shameful and debasing.-
The calm and quiet judgment Of good
citizens is ignored in the outcry of par
tizan strife, and the malignity Of per-
sonal hate and selfish ambition. Thus
is the press perverted and polluted.
"The mission of the press to purify
the public taste, aid public morals. raise
up high standard Of social excellence.
and keep the same ever in view, is i'm
piled in all that we have just said under
the head of its duty to criticis< Alright. l"