The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-11-17
High Toned Political Discussion.
From the Darlington Hawkeye.

by, as he was walking down town yesterday
morning, :" that disgusts me with politics.
and that is the violent and abusive tone in
which our daily papers conduct the dis
cussion of every issue and question which
they touch upon.
I" Indeed, you may well be disgusted at
ii, +" replied old Mr.. Bartholomew, who had
just Joined him.. g It is as much as man
can do to lift newspaper off his doorstep
with pair of tongs. Time and again |
throw the paper down half read, and l
have seriously thought Of stopping it alto
gether, for I consider it's presence in my
family a contamination. i .Est5 3
" 1t is, in truth, replied Mr.. Leatherby.
"It is worse than contamination. 1t is
corrupting it has degrading, brutaliAing
influence that is, am convinced, under
mining the foundations Of our moral struc-
ture. The daily press of to-day is one
great engine of abuse, defamation, bad
grammar, worse language. and worse
morals" Fss
''I cannot see for my part, said Mr.
Bartholomew, "why men cannot discuss
politics as freely, as earnestly, and as
entirely free from acrimonious expressions
and feeling, as purely free from abusive
language Of any kind, from any heat and
anger, in fact, as they could discuss the
grade of street or the style of coat"
"And so think T. said Mr.. Leatherby,
&c / cannot for my part conceive of an intel
lect so warped and narrow, a mind SO shall
low, that it cannot carry on discussion
upon any question in politics without
falling into heaspsrities, vulgarity, abusive
detraction, and shameful SANDER that is
the reproach aud disgrace Of the newspaper
press" 5f9-5
cit isa form of idiocy, believe" re-
Piled old Mr.. Bartholomew; sit is an
indication of feeble mind that looks upon
abuse as an argument and bullying as
logic. I am and always have been Re-
publican, but can express my disapproval
of many Democratic measures in a gentle
manly manner, and if had not mind
enough to keep my temper would con-
sidsr that had no right to talk politics" !"
"You are perfectly correct" replied Mr.
Leatherby, earnestly; "and while We disa-
gree ON some points in political controversy
I being a lifelong Democrat, yet we can
freely and with mutual pleasure and, l
trust, profit, meet and discuss our differ
ences in a friendly way, without giving
way to the insane and detestable exhibition
of temper, ignorance, and prejudice which
marks the tone of the morning paper.''
81 had not noticed it SO much in the
Hawkeye, replied Mr.. Bartholomew, with
show of awakening interest in the con-
versation, "but when that trashy Demo-
cratic sheet that pollutes the evening air is
brought to me by my neighbor, an ignorant
dolt who can neither read nor write but
takes the paper as - party duty, to read
for him, I am amazed that the gods Of
truth and decency do not annihilate the
infamous, puerile sheet with their thunder
bolts.''
".You must bear in mind, however" !"
rejoined Mr.. Leatherby, speaking trifle
louder than was necessary in addressing a
companion whose hand was resting on his
arm, ssthe Gazette has such tide of cor
ruption, such an avalanche of political
bigotry and villalny to rebuke, that its
voice must be raised in order to be heard,
and it must speak boldly, defiantly, and in
thunder tones of righteous denunciation to
startle the people into realizing sense OF
the peril which threatens the country from
Republican misrule and tyranny"
"By Georgep' shouted Mr.. Bartholomew,
"the Republican party is the last, the only
bulwark between the republic and eternal
ruin. tell you, sir, once let the Demo-
cratic party obtain control of this govern
ment, once let that infamous organization
of political thieves, knucks, outlaws, and
castaways take charge of our political ma
chinery, and we will find ourselves in the
hands of a horde of the most abandoned
profigates, the most utterly unprincipled,
the most vicious, denoralized, unconscion-
able, diabolical, set of scoundrels that ever
cheated the gallows!' t s 529a
"By the long horned spoon!" roared MIR.
Leatherby, jerking his arm away from Mr..
Bartholomew's hand, "if the satanic and
Internal plans of the Republican party were
carried out, with all their attendant knavery
and debauchery, this government would be
rule of branded maiefactors and convicts,
government of felons, a penal colony ir
which the most hopelessly irreclaimable
graceless villains would administer the law
The bad faith of the Republican party, itl
ignominious record, it's vicious tendencies
have shocked the Christian world, anl
- -tts '3s t9s r
You're a liar!" yelled Mr.. Bartholo
new, 'and you are just like the rest of you
besotted, low-lived, ignorant class-a low
mean, pitiful, beggarly, INSCRIPTIONS, ant
treacherous set. whose impudence in asking
for the votes of honorable men is onl,
equalled by your rapacious and unbridles
greed for Office, your
"You are an, old fool - howled M.
Leatherby, $ a censorious, clamorous, sour
rilous, foul-tongued old reprobate, and
disgrace my Name when I talk to. you o.
the street. You mistake vituperation an,
abuse for argument, and yon reply to
simple, PLAIN statement Of facts with malig
nant and defamatory slander and calumn
because you can't answer sE fea
"shut up !" shrieked Mr.. Bartholomew
!" Don't you say another word to me or II
slap your ugly mouthl By George, r.
kick your head off J" .. ~ -
.sYou can't do i'll roared Mr. Leather
by, pulling off his coat and dancing aroun
Mr.. Bartholomew. can lick the whol
Republican party, from the big whiske
thief and ring-master down to the snea
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