Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-09-05
SLANG AND ROWDYISNf.

From every occurrence in the coun-
try. even if not created for wise pur-
poses, the public should endeavor to
Law by an accumulation of experience
whether the subject be of a desirable
undesirable character. a sensation
alist seeks high Office in the golden
city. An editor, seeking notoriety lori
his paper, and desirable position IN
his party. threatens to bring before the
nublic some of the irregularities OF the
formers early life. The notorious kal-
locb retorts. not that he will justify
himself, nor that he win explain his
,.s.-iaiasfl ia reference tlleretO neither
that he will SHOW their irrelevancy to
the issues of the campaign but that
he will offset whatever the editor may
say with an equal amount of billins-
gate. In other words, that he will call
the editor bad names, make faces at
his sister and call his mother a dis
reputable woman, and charges the.
aforesaid editor with being an illegiti-
mate, matter about which it is not
supposed the editor was consulted I'M
til too late, Gor HIM to prevent the oc-
curTence. Thus is the issue of rowdy
ism made up between the parties.
Counter challenges being made, the
glove is thrown down and picked up.
The editor drags the candidate for
mayor before the public the latter in
turn exhibits the former in like man
ner, and the proceedings eliminate in
the editor shooting the would be may
or. To this a large mass of citizens re-
spond by trying to kill the editor.
Thus a large and enterprising city is
involved in one of the most stupendous
exhibitions of rowdyism that ever was
made in the land. This all grows out
of that curious propensity in men to
regard themselves before the cause. There
is a growing disposition in men to mag
Nifty themselves and lose sight of the
principle. '''
Of course we do not justify the shoot
ing of Kalloch, but what had the char
acter of that editors mother to do with
the issues of that campaign? If men
are in a heated controversy, it is I'M
justifable for either of the contestants
to turn and attack any female mo
matter what she may be- who has had
nothing to do with the controversy
No man is justified in doing that which
he has good reason to believe will turn
public attention from greatissues which
interest the public, to bitter and dis
gushing personalities. OF course the
fitness of men for PORTIONS should be
canvassed in thorough, dignifed and
reasonable manner. But, such a course
as would inevitably lead to crimina-
ton and re-crimination, and personal
hostility which involves the following
of any man, is unjustifable and if
the parties only who originated it We're
involved, they might suffer the conse-
quences, and the evil would stop with
them. But such is not the case. The
consequences fall upon a large commu-
nifty, and the essential principles sought
to be established by the election con-
troversy, are covered with confusion !;
and large bodies of men are impelled
to act from impulses, received from the
row, instead of their devotion to the
public interest.
Two men get to discussing a political
issue. They get angry and come to
blows and thus by an exhibition of
barbarism and brutality, undertake to
settle the truth or falsity Teach others
propositions. The great San Francisco
row is precisely such a proceeding,
only on large scale and the more
extensive its nature, the more disgrace
full and injurious it becomes Two
men are selected as candidates for the
presidency of the country. OF course,
each party select whom they deem to
be men most acceptable to the wisdom
and virtue of the country. They start
by discussing the principles represent
ed by each. Bat the tendencies of
the times are sucl,. that before election
the discussion degenerates into the
vilest personalities, vituperation and
abuse, 50 that the people are led away
from the consideration of the princi-
pies advocated by each party, into the
confusion of u discussion of men and
are led to wonder why perfect men,
incapable OF being misrepresented,
slandered and vilifed, are not selected
when none such exist. Brute force
and elimination and re-crimination is
thus substituted for fair, honorable
and manly discussion of the issues be-
fore the people. There are vital issues
in the great south western city be-
tween labor and capital, but how
many voters will be governed in their
action by their brute sympathy on one
side or the other Of the great row =!
We believe that the success of the
great experiment of self government
depends more upon the difficulty of
leading the people from an intelligent
consideration of men and measures, to
acting on their barbarous impulses
and prejudices and personal sympa-
thies than we have been in the habit
of appreciating. Whatever terrible