The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-04-13
COLUNIBIA.S.C.
Tuesday Morning, April 1S, 1875. I

Tuesday Morning, April Is, 1875. I
The Winnsboro News After Prominent
Citizens.
The Winnsboro Ne,os, of Saturday last,
SHES at us the following inquiries:
"The PHOENIX says that Mr.. Southern
WAS advised by prominent citizens to
accept the commissionership. Will the
PHGNIx please inform us who wero the
prominent citizens advising this course,
how many there were and whether they
are interested in scrip or any other
species Of bonanza claims. What rem
ders these citizens prominent? We are
asking these questions sincerely, with q
desire to be answered, as we wish to
ascertain upon what advice the advice of
Mr.. Southern, which we regard q bad
mistake, was based"
We should be pleased, if it were in our
power, to satisfy the courteously-ex-
pressed curiosity of our contemporary.
But there are difficulties in the way.
We ask it to look at the local notice
upon which lit bases its questions. 1t
will perceive that we do not say that Mr..
s. was advised, &c. but our language is
|-We understand that Mr.. 8. has," &c.
Now, the Ne,os knows what that means.
1t is way of expressing what is con-
stantly brought to newspaper Office.
There are other similar forms of express
Sion, such as, ''we are requested to state,
we learn, we are advised" &c. In other
words, it is an item of news or informa-
tion, not amounting to an expression of
opinion, which seeks publicity through
the columns of newspaper, and gene
rally is viewed as of only transient i'm
portance. IF it should affect the rights
'or trench upon the feelings of other
parties, the journals which gave it circu-
lation could justly be held to accounta-
bility. Then responsibility would OF
taoh and, should be recognized, and
proper steps on the part Of those
who take exceptions upon just
F: grounds should be responded to in q
corresponding spirit. The journal would
either have to shoulder it, or devolve the
sduty upon the shoulders where it might
Imuue properly belong. This, of course,
is not the present case. Our RESPONSE
bility, as regards it, ir solely that of hav-
ing been the medium through which q
certain unimportant statement was made,
and that is not much. And, considering
the character of the statement, it is
scarcely more upon the party who
brought it to US. It was simply fact
which he had the right to state, and which
hurt or injured no one else. The last
question-".Whatr renders these citizens
prominept2''-opens up field of specu-
lation and research upon which we are
tempted to enter. But we ore compelled
TO desist. In Tristram Shandy, we have
an account of man who visited the pro-
montory of noses, and supplied himself
with oneof the most exaggerated kind.
We SUPPOSE he was prominent, because
of his astonishing proboscis. Aldermen
Of city government, from the effects of
high living on turtle soup and the like.
seen in certain protuberarce of the
abdomen, are generally considered pro-
minent. A farmer is prominent sometimes
because he raises huge turnips or big hogs.
Merchants ore prominent who put away
large profits. The ward politician who
splits the ears of the groundlings, the
actor who tears passion to tatters. are
sometimes complimented with the epi-
thet prominent. In fact, prominent men
are not scarce, some for money, some
from appetite and high living and some
from peculiarities of mind, person, cha
racter and pursuit. Some others are
prominent, but more rarely, from their
virtues. Go to. Shall not man have
his friends, and may they not be promi-
nent, witty, wise, genial or candid? No,
not candid. For, sings o poet,
"Of oil the ills, good Heaven, thy wrath
con send,
Save. oh, save me from n candid friend"
The Tax Bill.
Strange to say, several Radical jour
nails chime in with Conservative COM