The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-05-17
MY Q a r. ID.
Coming Back to Facts.

The extraordinary circumstances
which have surrounded me, in conse-
quence of the exposure of the mail rob- i,
berries on the North Louisiana and .
Texas Railroad, imperiling my journ- ,
elastic usefulness and my life, render
it imperative that should make known
the motives which have actuated and
still actuate me, the origin of the exist
ing state of facts and my responsibility
to the public and the parties Interested.
This task, as well as the antecedent
causes, would have been unnecessary,
had been met in a proper spirit, at the
outset; because my duty, both as gen
tleman and an editor, was to aid all /
innocent persons implicated, in acquit-
ting themselves of blame and in remov-
ing any suspicion which the facts OF
the robbery may have laid at their
doors. A different procedure has been
selected by those who have felt them
selves aggrieved, leaving me, purpose
ly, presume, to take the aggressive
and do what the Government should
do, discover and punish the Offenders
or to assure the position of defense. AS
am not Special Agent of the Postal
service, and have had no further part
in this matter than to charge that
foul robbery has been committed and
to have published the facts, the alter
native of defense is my attitude. l
heartily say, with the Mobile Register,
that, "Journalism owes duty to the
public Mt large, more sacred than to
any individual or combination Of per-
sons. In precisely so much as fear,
or favor, Influences journalists
Judgment upon any subject, by just
that much, has he violated his bounden
duty and his plighted word to the
public"
The instances where L have found
suggestions of favor or fear conflicting
with duty as Il journalist, have been
almost innunerable, and in choosing
the latter, as believe have uniform
lily done, have to say that enmity OF
some kind has invariably followed me
In whatever disorder, public, social, o,
political, have used the types as {
corrective, the result to me, individu
ally, has been the same. And yet
even enemies, at times, have been con
strained to give me their plaudits TO
a uniform course in exposing corruption
and denouncing wrong. Now, i'll thi
particular case, what are the facts:
1t will not be denied, by any one
that the irregularities of the mails, il
this end Of the State, have been noto
rious. 1t would be almost impossibl
to find any citizen, who writes an
receives letters, or takes newspapers
who has not only general, but speciti
complaints. In my Office, with ever
reasonable precaution, complaints have
from time to time, overwhelmed m'
This trouble has as ctfcctually injurc
nv business as tho failure of the me-
chant to receive his goods, or the f;trme
to get his supplies when sent for, injurt
him. That, therefore, have Il dee
interest in an efficient mail SERVED
every reader of this paper can undc
stand.
Now let us see how l have execute
my trust as a journalist and as scrval
of the public.
on the Railroad came to me through
friend who received the discovcrc,
statement of the facts. TO this disctC
ure, l simply said 1 was ready to hc
the facts and to publish them. l hca
no more of the matter, until anoth
friend informed me that he had rccci
ed similar information from the san
person, with tho expressed wish
have it communicated to me. treat
the matter as did in the first instanC
signifying my Willingness to aid all
could in exposing the robbery and d
tecting the robber. l heard no mo
of the discovery Of the robbed Letter
until the list was placed in my hant
together with tho official letters pu
lished with the list last week, the bear,
friend of the finder, telling me I W
expected as n fearless journalist to G
pose the robbery. Mr.. pcttibonc, t
finder, and myself, We're not acquuinte
In fact, tor n letter he had written
Kansas, (Which was publishcu,) whc,
;y,l >n nf n,