The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-08-26
CAMPAIGN LIES.

In a presidential campaign the ardor of
party service frequently leafs to the pro-
mitigation of charges whose falsity lit
tie unprejudieed examination would
readily detect. The license given to
partisanship is SO broad that these de-
partures from the line of truth is never
looked upon as deliberate deception. In
fact it seems to be an essential feature of
campaign work to put the worst possible
construction upon the actions of the OPP
posite party and its candidate. In refut-
ing charges the truth is seldom adhered
to with strictness. So well established
are these unprincipled principles, that
the reputation of no man suffers because
of the wool of lies which is used in the
manufacture of his political argument.
But deliberate, systematic lie, un-
supported by shred of truth, framed
dispassionately and with vicious intent
is something inexcusable even by refer
ence to the laxity eff morals which pre-
walls in the political circle. Such lie
is the one in circulation about the speech
of Wade Hampton of South Carolina at
Staunton, Va. Republicans, for the pur-
pose of iustifying their appeal to section
al feeling. injected sentences replete
with treason and the Objectionable senti-
ments have been kept at the head of the
editorial columns of such papers as the
n. Y. Tribune and the Times. Such de-
vices to infame passion is treason to the
country much more to be dreaded than
the utterance of opinions which furnish
the pretext. Republican journals, while
laboring indefatigably to discover some
thing vulnerable in the record of the
democratic candidate, reprobated cam
paign of mud throwing. There were
many chapters in the life of their candi-
date which would not bear inspection or
analysis and hence their desire to keep
out of the canvass any reference to the
personal records of either 1t was the
whining appeal of towards knowing their
weakness. In the very teeth of these
professions they set to work and bring
forth reasonable expressions and then
give them the widest publicity as the ut
terance of a southern senator, man as
much respected for his candor and fair
ness as he is admired for his ability
Wade Hampton is not fool and no one
but fool would say what is attributed
to him. He has been noted for his mod
Grafton, for his efforts to heal discussions
and to cause forgetfulness of the war and
the bitter feelings it gave rise to. Ey-
| erything in his life would, without even
disclaimer from him, have proved that
he was falsely reported.
Consider what Lee and Jackson
would do were they alive. These are the
same principles for which they fought
for four years" These are the words
| put into Hampton's mouth, by people
driven to extremes for campaign argu-
ment. Wade Hampton denies that these
words were in his speech. He has had
published the speech as he delivered it.
The independent republican papers such
as the Ny. Herald and the Springfield Re-
| publican, do him the justice of admitting
the fraudulent character of the speech as
at first published. The n. Y. Tribune,
paper as meanly partisan as can be
found; as utterly unprincipled as an in
sane desire to make amends for having
at one time shown independence, can
make it, refuses to give currency to the
genuine speech, and keeps the objection
able portion of the counterfeit one at the
| head of its editorial columns, in emula-
| ton of the tactics of insignificant local
sheets, in which political bigotry is made
to act as a substitute for ability.
What a high plane on which to man.
age campaignl What glory must ac-
crue to party which will descend to the
practice of building solely on pure and
unauthorized falsehood! Never was a
more disreputable mode of electioneering
practiced. 1t may prove effective. The
Ignorant element of the republican party,
by no means an insignificant portion, are
ready to believe anything bad of south
ern people. There is an allurement in
| party hate which holds their minds cap
tive. Itisfo the benefit of such that Wade
Hampton is misrepresented.
| LILLE M;lwa11ka a Santinel is IlSnallr q