New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-02

ness. Mr.. Parton gives c0plous e1tracos Hoh
the reports in the New-YOrk papers, and ADDS,
"None of these statements has any resemblance
"to the TRUTH These charges, coming from
any one who has access to the public ear, are
very serions. TIE TRIBUNE, at least, cannot
afford to let one of its regular staff rest under
charges like these without examination. we
have taken pains to investigate the matter,
and we are convinced that the statement OF
orr reporter, published on another page, Is
literally true and that Mr.. Parton's story Is
absolutely false in spirit and in detail. Inc
gentleman, whom with others he so recklessly
accuses of drunkenness, brutality, talsehood'
and SANDER, has been connected with LIE
TRIBUNE over seven years. lie Is consistent
in total abstinence from wine or spirits, not
knowing the taste of either. His professional
and personal character is as high as tlat OF
Mr.. Parton. His reputation for trustworthy
observation and reporting, we are compelled
to say. is better than that Of Mr.. Parton. lie
afflrms and offers to make affidavit to the
accuracy of his statements, which, by the way,
we have verified from other sources.
In Justice to Mr.. Parton we will state
that on applying TO him for the sources upon
which he based these serious charges against
reputable men, he says that he received his
information chiefly from a young gentleman
connected with one of the newspapers IN
Morristown whose name he cannot recall.
We are sure we are speaking within bounds
when we say that this is not an effective way
to teach the press habits OF truthfulness ana
accuracy. In fact, we gravely doubt whether
Mr. Parton possesses the necessary qualllica-
tons of mind and character to attempt any
such work. lie has written several readable
and entertaining histories, all as blindly par
tisan as electiOneerng pamphlets in PreSl-
Dental year. lie wrote the lite of Burr, there
fore Hamilton Is part knave and part fool.
He wrote the life of Franklin, and so John
Adams is ridiculous. Jay n numbskull. lie
wrote history of Butler, and so the back-pay
swinde is righteous and every one who dis
approves of the Essex statesman's morality is
little better than one of the wicked. Even in
cases where his prejudices do not come into
action he is writer whom it is pleas
ant to read but dangerous to quote
He travelled with great CELEBRITY over the West
some years ago, and wrote an account OF the
cities he had visited, which formed series
of piquant articles and caused great deal OF
innocent gayety in the regions he had I'M
agined he was describing. He is as incapable
of accuracy as he is of fairness. In this very
article, crticisng the inaccuracy of news
papers, after he has uttered a reckless and
ferocious libel against half dozen journalists
whose daily bread depends upon their char
acter for truth and carefulness, he recreates
himself by such trihing plumbers as attrbut-
ing to Talleyrand the remark OF Goldsmith
that the use of language was to conceal our
thoughts, saying that there is no lobby IN
Washington, and that competent and we'll
trained journalists receive the same compen-
sation as lawyers, doctors, and clergymen OF
the fourth rank. Mr.. Parton is prosperous
historian, but he must be more careful OF his
facts before he can ever be a reporter.
What great thing it would be for the world
if preachers would only listen occasionally to
their own sermons. Mr.. Parton, for instance,
closes this highly inaccurate sketch with the
frapl, confession: hIt is we who
"need to relearn the lesson which the ages
"reveal to Us, that truth is in itself sacred
"aad precious thing.p