The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-09-05


ten to the explanation, and while not
holding him guilty, will nevertheless per-
NIT the charge to influence their way of
thinking of him. An explanation which
is necessarily long and complicated, had,
as rule, better never be made. You
cannot get anybody to listen to you. No
matter II the accused person is distin-
gulshed, ne IS of so little consequence to
any private citizen that he can have no
nope of a hearing if be attempt labDred
defense. If the denial is short and sharp.
hls chanlasare better. 1t NAV have been
very well for Governor Hawley to answer
the charge made against him by General
Butler in the Massachusetts campaign
last fall The refutation was fiat and de-
cisive, and Governor Hawley, perhaps,
did the best thing for himself Such ex-
pressions though as "brand" and "infas
NOUS" should be ruled out as fashionable
and pleonastic. When man is called a
liar, he is sufficiently branded" and
there is no difference between Gle" and
an infamous lie.'
Governments can afford best of all to
answer calumnie9 4 private individual
may hope to be overlooked he may do so
even it good man, for observation is
sometimes mistaken. Put governments
cannot escape everybody must think
something of their rulers If anybody
can be heard it is they Our OWE gov.
ernment was quite right in putting the
Catacazy matter before the public it
would have been better had it been done
sooner. Bat in the case Of a single citi-
zen uniustly accused, the best refutation,
and that which will WIN in the end, is
the argument of mans life.
IF that is good, the sense of the fact is
sure one day to leaven the hole lump
IF u bile opinion. This is true Of phi
vate and public men equally. When pub
lie men have been certain length of
time before the world, we get to have
that intimate and satisfactory notion of
them that we acquire of the characters
Of those we know personally. The world
knows that Gladstone, Greedy and Sum-
ner are good men, though it has d pretty
correct idea of their faults and shortcom-
ings. 1t knows, too, that Disraeli is
clever trif1er, though 1t is not insensible
to his talents aud good qualities
[ suppose there is no country in the
world where it pays SO poorly to refute
SANDER as here. | know of no role less
enviable than that of an American with
grievance All the world over people
cross the street to elude man who will
pour tale of wrong and Injustice in
their ears But in this country, the lot
of sRch person is exceptionally hard.
In England, man like Sir Spencer Rob
nson, who was lately turned out of the
Admiralty gets al the journals by the
ears, arguing over the ustice OF his dis
mission. Here he would hardly have a
"personal," much less an editorial and
such little notice as was taken of him
would have been very acquiescent. | do
not at AL approve of this state OF things.
The difference is entirely in favor Of
England. In the first place they have
much greater number of educated men
in journalism than we, and justice IS the
Instinct of educated men. Then their
journals have a large highly educated
Iaudience. The virtues, abilities, or def
ciencies of their public men are rightly
matters of Importance to them. The con-
ceited, half educated America public
UNDERWRITERS leadership. Moreover, they
think that if the public man is treated
uninstly he is no worse Off than plenty Of
, other people Of their acqu sintance. I'VE
can't give our sympathy to one hundredth
part of the unfortunate people we know
: Infinitely more unfortunate than, the
t maltreated politician, for he has bread
f for his wife and family, and a social posi-
ton far above ours. Why should we go
out Of our way to look into his grievanc-
s ?" The answer to this natural reAec-
: ton IS first, that it is of particular impor-
tancs tia the characters D public men
be rightly judged, and secondly, that the
" fact OF there being SO much injustice in
D til" world does not relieve US from our
! obligation TO be as just as we may.
Though we may not admire this pecu-
! llarity of our countrymen, we must at
: least acknowledge it as fact, and guide
our speech and action accordingly. Where
people will not listen, 1t is neither dignity
nor policy to speak. The presens is too
/ valuable to spend great deal OF it in
# trying to make man understand that our
past has been better than they think.
Injustice will not do an honest man very
: much harm the world is for us as we
+ choose to look cut upon it. The past is
j gone the present and the future we have
. to consider; and no reasonable man will
t embitter years which he has yet TO make
; or mar for the sake Of moments gone be-
q yond recall and endeayor.-Christiar
J3a50D. 4+a, aoa
G TFhora &c oothipcr no po+hinr iouopnu