The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-08-04


advantageously to himself Hence he is,
perhaps, honest in his belief that his &C.
ton against us Is well founded, but he is
mistaken. He has allowed the enchanting
vision of future suit for damages, and a
possible little ten thousand dollars lin
greenbacks) as a patch for the hole we tore
in the ragged and soiled garment, which he
is pleased to call his reputation, to deceive
him and urge him on in the present foolish
but characteristic action.
Squire Comings has taken exception to
and basis his suit for criminal lible upon a
sentence we used some time ago when,
in speaking OF his behavior while Mr.. Shee
han was attacking us, we said that che
has repeatedly disgraced the title he bears :"
What strangely constituted mind the man
must have, who hopes in the face of facts
such as confront Comings in this
case, to clear himself of all blame
by having 'those facts ex-
posed His faith in his own innocence
must be truly sublime, or his ability to
ignore and brave the truth marvellous.
In either instance his condition is a pitt
able one. If Comlngs, as police magis'
trate of this city, has not disgraced his title
then the rogue who steals is not a thief and
does not sacrifice all claims to respectable.
ity. If Squire Comings has not disgraced
the Office of police magistrate, by
word and deed so as to
he unworthy the confidence and respect
OF all honest persons, then the wretch who
attacks his victim unawares and FROM be-
hind, is not coward, and does not deserve
to be execrated by all brave men. We re-
iterate with all the force that conscious
ness of the responsibilities we incur, and a
firm conviction of right can lend us, that
SQUIRE CoMINGs HAS NOT ONLY ONCE,
BUT REPEATEDLY DIsGRACED THE TITLE OF
POLICE MAGISTRATE. In saying this we ut
ter what we know to be true, and can prove,
and we shall make our charges good wheth-
er we are given an opportunity to do SO in
court or not.
We oeem 1t necessary 10 say in this con-
nection that we do not believe in SANDER
in any form or degree whatsoever. The
man or woman who, either thoughtlessly
or with purpose, says that which reflects
upon, or may ruin, the character of neigh
Dor, or private citizen whose actions do not
injure the public goods to be detested and
deserves the condemnation of all who de-
sire the best possible state of society. We do
not believe that newspapers have any su
perior privileges in this respect The edi-
tor or publisher who would condescend to
pry into and expose the affairs and charac-
tiers of individuals whose being and actions
did not concern the public, because they
would not injuriously affect the public in
terests departs from his proper sphere be-
Titles and disgraces the profession to
which he belongs, and brings upon himself
the merited scorn of all good people and
ultimate ruin. But we hold that
besides gathering general news from
abroad; noting events at home, and
filling his spare space with clippings, love
stories, hotel arrivals, and nonsensical
squlbs, the editor has other duties to per-
form and the newspaper another mission
to carry out. When we judge an editor
from the standpoint of retail
grocery merchant, whose person
al interests demand that he
should offend no one-uot even the greatest
rascal, and bind the newspaper down to
the same rule-to which the successful
merchant binds his statesmen, then we strip
it of its usefulness to its supporters--the
people make it the appologist for all Of
fetal criminals and a silent observer and
party to all public wrongs.
The moment man asks to be permitted
to serve the people in any capacity, what
ever his past and present life, becomes
public property, and the newspaper, being
a public institution and guardian Of the
public good, as much as the school or the
church, and being specially protected as
such, by the highest authority in the
land, is bound to place the record Of the
man before the people for their inspec-
ton. This duty does not cease after
the applicant has been installed in Office,
but is increased. 1t is absolutely necessary
that the people should be kept constantly
Of the doings of those whom they
pay tor aud trust with, the transaction of
their business.
Mr.. Comings occupies very important
position, and his acts should bear the
,lostest scrutiny without injury to his rep
ltatlon. The BULLETIN only attacked his