The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-11

EXPLANATORY SOMEWHAT.


We publish, elsewhere, n communication
signed Justice" containing some stric-
lures ON one of our recent editorials rela-
tive to the rilton- Beecher scandal, as il
has come TO be known. We owe our re-
spected correspondent an apology for the
apparent delay there has been in the publ
cation of his communication but the fact
is that by some of those unaccountabe
mshaps, that sometimes occur, it never
came into our possession or to our knowl-
edge until within few minutes of the
time of present writing. We make this
explanation because we are willing, at all
times, to publish structures on our editorials
when properly written and coucled in
gentlemanly language, and if we find that
we cannot sustain ourself we will yield as
gracefully rs possible. We do not mean
by this, that every time, or at any time, we
express our views of public men or current
topics that we will enter INTO long, inter
minabe discussion of the question con
sidcred, because we will not. In writing
editorials, we intend to express our own
opinions not those of any other person, or
at the suggestion or dictation of any other
person and TO comment on men and
things in as fair, candid, reasonable and
just manner rs possible. In reference to
the communication and editorial in ques-
ton, we think that our correspondent has
been as unjust to us in one way as he mar
thinks we have been to Mr. Bcecher in
another way. We think that we can con-
vince him and all the reasonable persons, if
they will give the article moments
thought, that we were not guilty of any in
justice to Mr.. Beecher in the article, but
on the contrary, we melted ont to him
equal and exact justice, without the thought
of prejudging his case before he had had an
opportunity TO be heard in his own behalf.
As we propose to make this article as much
general as special, before we refer further
to the communication we will say a word
or two preliminary thereto.
1t must be remembered that editors do
NV '"'S MUM tihic III WHICH W DltDuTt
for writing given editorial. Upon that
particular subject they must express them
selves without having weeks, days or, even,
hours to consider It, In order to do this.
it requires thorough knowledge of the
past, a close study of current events, and
the cultivation of the habit of forming
opinions quickly-for it will not do to draw
incorrect conclusions, or to give utterance
to them-and of expressing them at once.
We are speaking of daily newspaper of
course, and we may say that in all our edi-
torial evnerienre 90 .no 49, -
newspaper, we have never, at the time of
writing, known the opinions of others on
the subject we were considering, save, of
course, in cases where we were replying to
some article or communication. With a
weekly newspaper it is different. There.
they have the news of the week with the
comments, pro and con, made thereon, so
that they can give general knowledge of
the sentiment of the country thereon be-
fore expressing their own opnions-if, per-
chance, it should happen that they had
any. We do not mean to insinuate that
editors of weekly newspapers haye no
opinions of their own, because we know
better; and, moreover some of the ablest
men of the country have occupied and still
continue to occupy such positions. We
only intend to illustrate the haste in
which editorials must necessarily be writ
ten for daily newspaper, and used that
comparison for the purpose. But
to the case IN question. Our CORE
spondent will notice that the arti-
Gle was headed ST." and the
whole article was written with an 'if' or
"if the story is true preceding its state
ments, comments or denunciations. Our
correspondent and others will remember
that we were commenting on a statement
to which we particularly referred, having
its origin in New York, which was tele-
graphed to the press of the country and
appeared in our columns that morning, to
the effect that Mr.. Beecher would make
no statement that he would refuse to be
examined before the investigating COM
mlttee; would never again preach. but
would resign his pasforate of Plymouth
church, and become the editor of a new
newspaper about to be established in New
York city We said that the story was
strange and Vtrue, Mr.. Beecher was a liar,
slanderer, etc. We ask our correspondent
if we were not correct? If Mr.. Beecher
should take the course indicated, would he
not be everything that we said he would
be? Would it not be a confession of guilt
ON his part ? We thought 80 then, we see
no reason to change our opinion now. We
rejoice, however, to learn that such is not
to be his course. That little "if" makes
all the difference in the world A word
further. Our correspondent cannot have
read our comments on this matter. since
the appearance of Tilton's arraignmept.
without seeing that we were a warm nd
mirer OF Henry Ward Beecher that we be-
lieyed him innocent of these infamous
charges, that we considered the whole
matter conspiracy to back-ma or de-
stroy; and we have had no occasion to fall
ter in our opinion save when this story
was set alioat-by the GrdlAic, us it after.
wards appeared and by the dilly-dallying
course Of the Plymouth church committee.
We trust now that he may establish his in
nocence-but he is well convinced that
silence will not do it.
LETTERS ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Henry Wnru