Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-05-16
An Editorial FiascO.

An Editorial fiaScO.
An editorial III Tie last Piedmont in's-
pendent charges the editor of this paper
with "cmlcishng" a communication in our
issue of the I'd inst over the signature of
"RooNLy" II is due to candor to say We
did, in this, as in nearly every. contribution
admitted for publication, cndcavor To i'm .
prove "RooSEY's' phrascology so far as
such improvement did not impair the sense .
or sentiment. We must confess, however, /
some dcrcliction in preserving tic scnti-
ment In modcrating the significance OF
some expressions and the vigor OF some OF
the charges, we fancicl we were emitting !
ourself. 10 Mr. WOODS gratitudc--in fact, |
we honcetly think lie owes us few Of the |
"n,any thanks he dispenscs so lavishly for
less important flvors.
Mr. RUoSrY, q quoadom friend Of Mr. |
WooD and his paper, miner and member /
of the Union at one time OF the Executive
Committee, and Of the special committee OF
three selected to draft bill for the better
protection of miners is thus necessarily
identified in great measure with the subject
of his communication. Like many other
people, however, he is poor ''rhetorician.'
This, with other similar Deficiencies disables
him from putting his reflections in proper
order But, as Mr.. WOOD knows is the case
with scores of practical, sensible miners, he
is not necessarily devoid of IDEAS because he
cannot arrange them rhctorically, nor al
ignoramus because he is lot a spcller, nor
greenhoIn because he is not grammalian.
His advantages for improvement III these
respects have doubtless been few, in COM
mon with those Of very many strictly labor
ing men-a circumstance of misfortune
rather than fault. If, therefore, he desires
to give his thoughts upon any public matter
the wide range which the press affords be
cause they lack establishment Mr.. WOOD
would have us expose the authors mistor
tune as & test by which his ''ct nuctey" is to
be Judged else smother them in their crude
ncss-n either case a procedure which, in
effect, closes the boosted freedom of the
press. to miners and workingmen universal
ly-to "RooNEY' particularly.
Fortunately or unfortunately, 1--WE are not
vet aware whicl,) because of the identity
above adyertcd to, he holds views Ola matter
of pablo interest, with which Mr.. WOOD is
conspicuously associated. These he wants
TO give to his brother miners for the pur-
pose as plainly intimatcd, of exposing cor
ruption. He claims to hold possession of
facts which warrant him in the belief the
miners bill was defeated through tinkcring
after it left the Committees hands. He
challenges Mr.. WOOD for an explanation in
public or executive meeting, or he will eX
pose tho matter i'll such manner as to leave
no doubt of grounds for suspicion, and that
hcand his brother miners have thus lost a
measure justly ,hcir due
This is the statement Mr. ROONEY made
to lis when he offered his letters for pubca
ton. Further than listening to this state
mcnt and giving it here in defence of our
action, admitting and correcting his letters
we have nothing whatever to do with this
matter. Coming from one of his intimate
official connection with the circumstances
he desires to make public--one as deeply
interested as any other nincT-one Clesning
to purge his trade organization of alleged
corruption for The good of his fellow mem
beers, upon a subject thus important 10 vast
majority of our patrons, we can discover no
reason why his uttcranccs should Ike given
without correction, or why suppressed
i;,l ~, Il,
from his pen, with the utmost Difference
to the every respectful request of Mr.
WOOD, we do not see that it is all incum
bent upon us 50 to do. Ut would have
been more rational to "requcst Us not to
publish them at alb Mr.. ROONEY does
not assail us, and, knowing nothing of the
charges he makes, we are not authorized to
aijudge them one way nor the other. He
is miner, resident and voter, by virtue of
which his interests, identity and voice are
cqllal to those of any other full grown man
of the same avOcation, situation and prcrog-
atives On what possible presumption,
then, ace should be expected to show hi
character by the very uncertain index OF
cerJatim publication, we are at a loss to de-
termine; this, too, when these columns are
equally open for the vindication of any
public man or measure that is attacked
There are other matters herewith associ-
atcd we might protitably introduce here
but :s Mr.. WOOD hopes" to be severely
',let alone" we reserve them for use in the
event he imprudently disregards the appli.
cation of the Golden Rule to his own con.
duct in "let alone" ethics. Meanwhile, il
will be better for him to appear less sensi
tive to criticism from whatever source it
may come, as come it must sooner or later
asone ofthe inevitable penalties of cmincnct
We suggest also closer adherence to the
text of instructions to "rcfutc" certain
Charges" In such cases it is well to dc
one of two things-say nothing or refutt
them. In this instance the instruction
was probably forgotten, rs not a word cs
tablshing the falsity of the charges was at
tempted in the half column personal matte
ostensibly devoted TO the purpose. Witt
some it may have passed as crushing dis
posal of the object aimed at, but nineteen
of the sensible and intelligent men of thu