The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-06
Oae Of Mr.. Kelly's Dalitss Losing
It's Temper.

Oae OF mr. AeHy's Dahies AOsA"S
It's Temper.
We had hoped that calumnies and per-
sonal abuse were no longer the resort OF
journalists, at least in this city, in the dis
cussion of public questions. 1t has come
to be assumed that the conductors of the
press are gentlemen, and that they do not
permit themselves to employ in their
animadversions on men in official stations
or in their controversies with each other a
kind of personalities which have no place
in the intercourse of gentlemen We are
sorry that Mr.. Kelly's morning organ has
fallen into gross violations, not merely OF
the courtesies, but even Of the decencies
of discussion, and we call the attention OF
Mr.. Kelly to the fact. For the personal
affronts which appeared in his morning
organ yesterday we do not hold him re-
sponsible, since the courteous presumption
is that they were perpetrated without his
knowledge or sanction, 6 presumption
which is strengthened by the urbane tone
of his recent letter to the HERALD. We
cannot permit ourselves to think that the
courtesy Of that letter did not express the
natural instincts OF gentleman, and since
O real gentleman never does violence to his
own instincts we cannot for moment sup
pose that Mr.. Kelly directed or inspired the
ungentlemanlike offences Of which his Star
was the vehicle yesterday morning. But
while acquitting him Of that fragrant breach
of the proprieties of discussion-such
breach as could not have passed without
censure in any parliamentary body--we
think the occasion fit one for remarking on
the dangers to which public man subjects
himself by maintaining an organ. His time
is too much occupied for minute super
intendence of a newspaper, and yet he is
held responsible for all the errors of judg-
ment, taste and manners which are COM
mitted by his accredited mouthpiece. The
history of the country demonstrates that no
public man was ever benefited by An organ.
This truth has become so fully recognized
that successive administrations at Washing
ton have in late years kept clear Of such
entanglements.
What has the HERALD done to provoke an
outpouring of personal abuse? It has
treated Mr.. Kelly with marked and dis
tinguished personal consideration, but has
exercised the right which belongs to every
public journal and to every private citizen
of suggesting candidates for an important
Office. Does this justify resort to personal
defamation Can anything justify it when
it is once admitted that the code which
regulates the intercourse of gentlemen
should equally regulate the discussions of
the press?
If the press had not become independent
Of official favors if, as in former period,
it needed public advertising to enable it to
maintain precarious existence, such a
spirit as has been exhibited by one Of Mr.
Kelly's organs would be a serious trial to
an honest but struggling newspaper. Hap
PLY the press has become so wealthy and
powerful that it can afford to laugh at the
impotent spleen of men in Office whose
plans it may disturb or thwart, and re-
vival of the old time coarse personalities
only causes the annoyance which gentle
men always feel in contact with people who
renounce claims to good breeding But
we shall not hold Mr.. Kelly responsible for
the bad manners of his morning organ I'M
less they ore persisted in. We presume it
is only necessary to call his attention 10
the offence in order to preventits repetition.