The Portland daily press., 1876-04-25
Our New York Letter.
Mr.. Nordhof and the Post-A Frauk An.
olosy-The had Effect. Of Newspaper
wriiing-The Liberal Conferenee-P..
iiticaI Discussion I'm the Presen, and I'm
the Past
NFw YoaK. Anril % 1875

New YoaK, April %, 1876.
have had within day or two the strongest
possible reasons for coming to the conclusion
that it is utterly unsafe to believe anything one
hears or reads, which reflects directly or re.
motely upon the motives or conduct of ones
fellow men. In my last letter there was
paragraph concerning the senior editor of the
Evening Post, the material for which was de.
rived from an intimate friend of Mr., Nordhotf.
who told me before and has told me since,
that he had it from that gentleman's own lips.
1t was not narrated in confidence or as q secret,
nor had any reason for supposing that only
one person had been the recipient of it. My
informant Is gentleman of good standing
both socially and in business point of view,
and has nothing whatever to do with political
organizations. There was not a circumstance
about the matter calculated to inspire one with
distrust of the accuracy of the statement.
You San imagine, therefore, the amazement
with which learned that Mr.. Nordhoff met
the story with fiat contradiction. AsI do not
know the gentlemen, never to my knowledge
having seen him in my life, and as do know
his friend perfectly well, it is only natural that
should place my faith upon the veracity of
the latter. But it is conclusively established to
my mind that most unjust groundless and
cruel imputation has been cast upon the editor
OF the Post, and it occasions me unreasonable
regret that should have had any agency in
such proceeding. l need not assure you nor
your readers that am absolutely incapable of
wilfully misrepresenting any human being. L
think too that your experience and theirs will
bear me out in the assertion that am ordin-
ariy very careful about communicating any
thing through your columns that is not suscep.
tible of proof. But in this instance have un.
questionably been imposed upon, and 1 desire
to put myself on record as withdrawing and re-
tracing in the fullest manner the statement in
question and any and every reproachful infer.
ence deducible therefrom.
Nor can L alter medtatiDg deliberately upon
the subject excuse myself for having told
the story, Notwithstanding my undoubting be-
lief in its authenticity. 1t was one of those
acts altogether too prevalent in our time
which has too much the flavor of gossip and i'll
nature to be consisten. with the impartiality
and dignity OF journalism. 1 have always depre-
Gated that sort of thing and ought therefore
to refrain from practicing it. begin to think
that there must be something demoralizlng in
the habit of newspaper writing which tends to
weaken the ethical perceptions of even those
who indulge in it enthusiastically in an anna
teur way. am very sure that temperate lam
guage and delicate consideration for the feel
ings of others are productive of the most effect
i've results. don't believe that violent utter
ances as general thing carry as much weight
q 0antlar Eorna o.I n,
ity of course, are essential, but these need not
necessarily be accompanied by passion and Bit
terness. So that when 1 find myself impercep-
tibly drifting into the propensity to impugn
motives and adopt the current denunciatory
style, L always regret it when 1 have tine to
consider.
1t is never a good idea to write
letter while in state of excite
ment. Last week the theme which OBJ
truded itself upon my attention just at the
moment that was about to write to the PRESS,
was the call for conference of politicians in
May beginning with the words, "The wide
spread corruption in our public service which
has disgraced the Republic in the eyes of the
world and threatens 10 poison the vitality of
our institutions" Well, l acknowledge that
sentence filled me with wrathful emotions.
thought it unpatriotic, slanderous and false.
1t Is pretty strong libel on country that
| every American ought to love and honor. 1
am by no means sure that 1t would have been
proper declaration TO issue in that form on
the hypothesis of its accuracy. There ought to
be some reserve in the style of speaking or
| writing of the government. But being in ny
| opinion q mere rhetorical flourish and not In
the slightest degree warranted by facts, re.
ceived it with genuine Indignation. In that
mood expressed myself with more ferocity
than is my won't. But in that respect was
| simply Initiating the conduct had set about
reprehending. That was not a polite thing to
do, and it unquestienably diminished the
cogency of my criticism.
1 think too, that the document under consid.
| Grafton would have carried more weight IL IL
had been couched in milder language. The
| people of the United States have shown on
| occasions that they are remarkably sensitive
| about any asperslons upon the free land they
live in. They have upheld its honor at enor.
nous cost of blood and treasure. 1t is hardly
to be supposed that they are ready to accept as
true the charge that ''the widespread corrup.
siOh IL Jul puOiiO cCNfiCo udS ut5Rfdceu Inc
Republic in the eyes of tie world" especially
when it is charge unaccompanied by specif-
cations and unsustained by evidence. such
allegations are entirely too serious to be ban.
died about in SO general a way. Legitimate
opposition to party or to an administration Is
a thing to be expected. That it should be Wig
orous and aggressive is natural enough. But
the limits of decoreus criticism are entirely
transcribed when accusations Of corruption
are put forth over the signatures of eminent
citizens, who thereby endorse and become re-
sponsble for averments that are based on mere
hearsay, and of which an exhaustive series Of
Investigations pursued for whole session of
Congress have failed to elicit any tangible
proof.
Beyond the interest 1 had in the topic as a
citizen of the Republic there was no particular
cause for anger on my part at the manifesto of
Messrs. Bryant, Woolsey, Bullock, White and
Schurz. No individual could possibly have
less personal concern In the perpetaation
of the administration than have. Neverthe-
less my respect for, and confidence in, the Chief
Magistrate of this nation is illimitable. be-
leve his associates in the councils of the state
are honest, upright and capable officers. It is
my abiding conviction that the public service is
less obnoxious TO censure than usual; that
owing to the rigid espionage to which the ad-
ministration has been subjected ever since its
advent, abuses have been diminished rather
than increased, and that we never have had in
the past, and never shall have in the future
more conscientious, straightforward and incor-
ruptible President than Gen. Grant. Anybody
is at liberty to dispute this opinion with or
without reasons, but it is judgment I have
formed without fear or favor and nobody can
fairly impeach its sincerity or disinterestsd.
ness.
1 have taken some pains to compare the tone
of public discussion of the present day with
that of past epochs, and discover that there
never has been period In the national history
when vituperat;on was so universal as it is now,
Certain men have upon occasion been targets
for excessive detraction, but the disposition to
assail everybody without discrimination or
ground is of comparatively recent origin.
The following paragraphs about Gen. Jack
ind 1e