The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-01
TUESDAY EvEN'G. JULY /. 1873

WHAT a pail of sadness all of this lugubrious
talk would cast over us, whether 1t should pro-
coed from federal bummers, or carpet-baggers,
or Connecticut copper-heads. The people OF Nlr-
ginia were raised to believe that no true man
would maintain sentiments through the press
which he did not own everywhere, and that an
honest man should carry his principles on MS
coat sleeve, and hence would be apt 70 unoer,
stand that the authors Of such sentiments would
honestly believe their own utterances. And mere
would be their strength, and the peoples dan
ger.-Petersburg Appeal.
We have entertained very much bet
ter opinion of the editors of The Appeal
than they seem capable Of entertaining OF
themselves. The very small personal fling
contained in the above paragraph, from
our Petersburg contemporary Of this morn
ing, would have passed entirely unnoticed
but for circumstances which partake of the
same petty spirit exhibited in other
quarters and on larger scale perhaps
than The Index would care to father.
The writer on THE STATE JOURNAL,
against whom this little fling is directed.
has had no connection whatever with this
paper except as journalist, and no ostcn-
sible connection at that. journalism with
him is profession" not a servile posi-
ton dictated by party hacks, on which de-
ponds his bread and butter and the few po-
litical favors that may be flung at his feet.
He is not obliged to tag the editorials he
writes for the little recognition they re-
ceive at the hands of the public, nor will he
be likely to resort to such non-prolessional
practice, while his journalistic services are
required in Virginia.
1t may be above the capacity Of the
gentlemen having the editorial management
of The Index to see how liberal Journal
list could write high tory articles on the
London Times, or how lifelong Democrat
could have conducted the leading journal
of America during the campaign Of 1860,
and made it the most effective instrument
talty for breaking down the Democratic
party and electing Abraham Lincoln to the
Presidency of the United States. But o
professional Journalist has just as clear Q
perception Of how this might be done as .
professional plcader has in making up thu
written alterations between two parties
both of whom he may personally regard
as fit subjects for the penitentiary.
But it becomes the editors of The
Appeal not to blazon their '.true man
hood'' too high in comparison with Other
gentlemen. Democrats who could hav'
supported Horace Greeley-the Thersite'
ofthe American press and Gargantuan libel
Ter of the South and its institutions, from
Democratic stand-point--and powerfully
advocated this claims upon the peopl
Of Virginia for their highest sulfrages
should hold somewhat diminished heal
while shaking their CORY locks at a jour
nalist, who put forth no offensive opinions
of his own during the campaign, but wa
professionally engaged in conducting tn
written alterations between the two can
didates. with as much courtesy and affia
bility as he knew how.
To have been Connecticut copper
head" may have been misfortune in th
day and time of it, but to have it flung u
in one'sface by Petersburg "Johnn
Rebu caps the climax of ingratitude, t
use the least offensive language our vocal
ulary admits of. Had we never blushe
at the designation before, we do now. Gu
mistaken sympathies were expended j
direction we are entirely ashamed Of.
y +.