The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-09-10
than ever, for your very frankness, your
personal friend, G. w. LAWSON.
Salem, Oregon, August "a.

IOTt. " W. LuUSOIt-D6ttF DT.-ln
the temporary absence of Mrs. Coburn,
who has become the "traveling editor''
for a while, in the hope that she too
may get to be 'great, fat, plump, in
dolent, easy example of woman's suf-
ferings," I, the undersigned, known as
the fighting editor" have the honor to
open and read her business letters, and
I make haste to return to my original
purpose to have and hold no private cor
respondenee concerning the public veal
or woe with anybody. Therefore, the
above letter, for which thank you, ap-
pears in print at your suggestion,
though not in the manner you evidently
anticipated.
From hasty perusal of the foregoing
infer that you have recently furnished
an article for the NEW NORTHWEST,
which was rejected by my sagacious sis
ter because of its ridicule of certain re-
ligious beliefs that the Christian world
holds 'sacred;" that you followed the
rejected article with private criticism
upon the paper, to which she as sharply
replied; hence the correspondence before
me. Now, 1 like the above letter. I
like it because it is audacious and spicy
and vulnerable and egotistical and
sharp. And like to give gentleman
chance to be taken at his word; conse-
quently your criticism, over the sigma
ture of "Jones Smith," is especially ac-
ceptable. 1 accept it, first, because SO
much of it is true; and secondly, have
so long been surfeited upon unqualified
praise that counter-irritant is neces-
sary in these dog-days, as a stimulant.
But your charge of D1ediocrity con-
cerning anything else than my own
platitudes must deny in toto. Mrs. Co.
burn has more editorial sense (she's
gone from home and can't help herself
when this is published) in any week of
her life than "Jones Smith" will ever
possess in time and eternity. To her
moderation in toning down the acrid
utterances of the undersigned the in
creased success of this journal is mainly
attributable, and though she sometimes
gives unqualified praise to straight
laced faculty like the Marshes, of For
est Grove, (who are too stingy to sub
scribe for the paper that praises them),
and in which take no extra stock, be-
cause I know they're behind the times,
yet she so zealously guards these col
umns when at home) against the ad-
mission of buffoonery or nonsense, while
sharpening them continually with the
keenest wit, that I do not wonder that
the paper prospers.
! can't afford to discontinue your pa
per, Mr.. Smith. The subscription price
is So 90 per year, and your quota is
needed to supply certain deficiency
Besides, no matter how much you
grumble, you are very good pay, and
don't propose to cut off paying sub,
scribers. Indeed, a gentleman assured
mo but yostorlay that tho New F0TSTrr-
WEST was the hardest paper to stop be
ever tried to get rid of in his life. First
he told the postmaster to stop it. Then
he sent an order to discontinue. Then
he refused to take it from the office, and
still it came. A year rolled on, and
there was another bill for three dollars
Furiously he appealed to his wife, and
found that she had secretly ordered its
continuance, so he surrendered at discre-
ton, and became a life subscriber; price
$50. "Go thou and do likewise"
When read your letter over grow
happy. "Give it fits," indeed! What
is there in it to reply to?. Simply
"sound and fury, signifying nothing
1 whipped out all the nold .fogies'
Except YOURSELF two years ago; so the
"ighting editor'' has lain on the shell
since then; but behold her now, will
sleeves rolled up and ears pinned back
ready for good-natured row.
The Religio-P Philosophical Jousma
containing your lecture is received il
exchange. Were it not for few Cha
neyisms that mar its artistic beauty,
should be pleased to print it. AS it is
the standard is not up to our columns
though very well for newspaper pub
lished by a man. Come, friend, hurry
up that promised "paper." We all wan
to see it, though we know it would be
solemn case of premeditated child muir
der for you or anybody else to give i
existence, for it wouldn't live thre,
months. These intellectual abortion
in journalism are not new.
You are in error about the application
of the ''torch of ridicule." Those whC
believe with you might appreciate it
but those who might need your light, i
you had any, would be repelled. Yol
don't keep pace with the Christian re
ligion at all. Everybody who attack
it, does so on the old-fogy plan
Religion in the church or out of it is
growth. Treat it with respectful con
sideration; let it assume whatsoeve
phase it may. Wouldn't you howl if
should publish somebody's TRAD
against Spiritualism, for instance?
have rejected many such. Yet a few
courteous arguments against your faitI
would not withhold, though I know
some of you would get "priest-fright
ened," and want to stop your paper
over them, even as few silly weak-in
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