The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-06-27
Our New York Letter.

administration of affairs in New Orleans.
The counsel for the prosecution in the suit
of Tilden VS.. Butler abandoned the case, after
examining his own witnesses, declaring that
he had been deceived, and admitting that
not the slightest evidence had been elected,
impugning the honesty of the defendant.
The scene in court was an impressive one
the whole audience breaking out in long loud
and irrepressible applause at so decisive tri-
umph of justice and fair play.
But think, what not only the General but
his family, and near friends have suffered in
consequence of the calumnies. which have
been heaped upon him during all these years.
They have seen his name paraded in hun
dreds of newspapers as a vulgar thief, and
banded on many thoughtless tongue, as
that of a man mean enough to steal spoons
and plate from the houses of Louisiana Reb-
els. wonder if the penny-aliners who illus
trate the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the press by a free
circulation of libels of this sort, have any idea
Of the depth of the wounds they infict upon
innocent people? The assassin of life has
the excuse of aiming the deadly blow in the
heat of passion, or under proyocation that de-
prives him of reason, but these assassins Of
character inf1ict their stabs with the utmost
GOODNESS and elaboration, and apparently
without any stronger motive than the desire
to be sensational
Within the past year, perfect mania for
defamation seems to have seized upon the
whole bohemian fraternity. Probably the
success and impunity of Dana and his Sun
newspaper has stimulated and encouraged
this propensity to blast regulations. Dana
oveidid the thing to such degree, that his
assaults fell harmless but some of his rivals
in the business, have proved more adroit in
their malignity, and more effective in the ac-
complishment of their deadly purpose.
MIR. MURPHY AND THE TRIBUNE.
Perhaps the most notable example of a
wilful and merciless crusade against an inno-
cent man, with view of hunting him down,
was that of the Tribune against the late
Collector of this Port. Starting out with
series of affidavits, that were entirely ex-parte
when made, and had been disproved by the
subsequent evidence of their signers before
competent tribunal, this utterly INSCRIPTIONS
journal continued by a course of ''damnable
iteration to assault and defame the object of
its wrath, day by day, with every species of
direct charge, innuendo and inference If he
furnished them with explicit proofs of the
falsity of their allegations, they published his
proofs, only to distort and deny them, and
then renewed their attacks with increased
virulence. t#t -.
OF course readers who weigh newspaper
statements, could and did detest the specious-
ness and want of conference in the averments
made, while the most superficial observer had
no difficulty in detecting the animus of the
attacks. But men shrugged their shoulders,
and said there might be something in it
when there was so much smoke there must
be some fire''-and to this hour there are
thousands of people all over the country who
believe that Mr.. Murphy is disreputable |
character. But it is dearly bought victory
over political opponent. 1t has cost the
Tribune its reputation for fair-play and con-
WINGED every man in New York who knows |
the facts that the paper under its present |
management will trample under foot every
principle OF justice, to crafty its spleen |
against any one towards whom it cherisbes a |
spirit of revenge.
THE IMMUNITY WITH WHICH THIS
horrid butchery of character has been pur
sued is attributable to the foulness of our ju-
dicial fountains. The law of libel is literally
suspended, while we have such judges as now
dishonor the BENCH Give us a change of |
venue to Jersey City and Judge Bedle, and a |
wholesome dread of the Penitentiary would |
check the flow of malice which runs from the |
pens OF these ready writer's who now had
rather break hearts than not make spicy
journal.
From the assassin of the editorial garrett
to the assassin of the highway is an obvi-
ously natural transition. Four DAYS have
been spent in the Supreme Court in finding
nine jurors who have the requisite freedom
from the prevailing tendency to form opinions
that shall qualify them to sit in judgment up
on the unfortunate Stokes. 1 dare say the
other three will be found during the ensuing
week, and then comes the long inquest, the
issue of which is quite beyond human ken.
- eAS PoVA iCiOW Ue COUVlCUeu, what
with stays of proceedings, motions for new
trials and the like he has a chance for a rea-
sonable old age. Unfortunately however for
him the vicious classes, videlicit the Erie and
Tammany twin ''rings," are against him, and
Of course among the decent portion of our
there can be no other sentiment than
that of horror of murder and murderers.
so that between the upper and neither mill
stone, his hopes of absolute acquittal are by
no means brilliant. The counsel for the de-
ense have long been promising startling rev.
elations in the course of the trial, but they
have certainly manifested decided inclina-
lion to withhold them as long as possible
from the public eye.
Gen. Grant and his wife forego the quiet
comfort of Long Branch on Monday, for
orief sojourn in Boston and visit to the Col
scum. This will furnish material for an I'M
limited number of paragraphs about the tur-
'itude of riding first class and in palace cars
With which the opposition journals relieve
heir heavier articles about the ''corruptions"
# the administration. Vive la humbug.
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