The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-07-28
The Cha asl beE-s Matter.

We have another communication
from the Hartford accu sers of A.
ID. Chambers, reiterating in strong
err terms than before, the charges
of infamous conduct against him,
aud defying him to bring suit for
slander. No one regrets the neces-
sity of these publications more
than we. We frequently, in years
past, had the pleasure of exchang-
ing favors with Mr.. Chambers, an d
it.was with great regret and only
from sense of our duty as q pub
ic,jonrnali5ts that we concluded to
publish tue charges against him.
Had he brought similar charges
and proof against any of the par
ties concerned We should have Civ
en- them publication. There are oc-
casions when the people have a
right to use the columns OF the
press TO expose wrong that can be
most cffcctuIIiy reached in that way,
and prevent its repetition, and this
seems TO be such case. We
would take pleasure i'll making pub
lications of the reverse to these
charges. Were Mr.. e. a private
citizen the case would be far diff
ferent. lie is public officer. He
is the representative of the people
in position where, above all 9TH
ers a character above suspicion
should be maintained. Were this
the first OF these chSrges the ease
would be different. Ii these charg-
es were mere rumor, or were made
by irresponsible parties, we should
be far from giving them publicity.
They are made by some of the best
and most responsible citizens OF
Hartford and vicinity, who declare
positively that thoy are ready to
prove them. Now, of course, we
would hsrdi y so 10 Chambers wife
or the editor of the other paper in
this town TO find out our duty in
regard TO this matter. We advised
different course, but those who
are responsible, chose their mode Of
warfare, and We VIII do what We
think TO be right, irrespective of
the opinions OF such diSiHiereSteo
advisors. We will add that Mr.
Chambers cannot, in our opinion
dispose of this matter by subter,
fuge, Q sneer, or 4 "dodge." The
parties who make these charges are
not joking. fhe matter cannot bC
laughed oat of existence. 1t is Sc
rious, and Mr.. Chambers ought tC
meet it in the most decided, efficient
and busincss-like manner. His
friends expect this. They expect
he can clear himself, aud that ht
will do il. His article last weel
did not meet tho case at all. HI
must take hold himself, and il
earnest. a double row of names
as long as The NEWS columns, stat
ing that the signers did not believ'
the charges proves nothing, ant
will not meet the case.
We trust we shall not be called
upon to Spublish the affidayits
From all accounts they would no
look we'll in print.
We do not pronounce Mr.. Cham
bers guilty, but we do say that tn
testimony against him Is so stroDi
as to justify any newspaper in pub
fishing it, in justice to the rights o
those who bring forward the char
ges, ana 10 the cause of moralit
andvirtue. To have longer suppress
cd and smothered these complailtI
would have been greater injustic
to others than the publication is /
Mr.. Chambers. If he is guilty, h
well deserves to have mis- guilt thu
exposed. If he is innocent,
should promptly bring his accus
ers into court aud lay heavy dam,
ges upon them, and thus vindicat
himself. Unless he does this, ever
fair minded person viii approy
the opening of our columns to TIL
subject.