The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-12-14
s. The American"

The above is the name of new candi-
date for public favor in the world OF
journalism, which began its existence
about the middle of October, In Philadel-
phia. In size and style it is SO similar to
the New York Nation that one is tempted
to suspect it of tendency to initiate
that journal, and the suspicion is some
what strengthened by the discovery, upon
perusal, that it seems to profess the same
general doctrines, and to establish for
itself reputation as a calmly dignified
and rigidly impartial critic of current
topics and affairs, representing that in
definite and highly suppositious quality
of American civilization known in cant
phrase as the best modern thought"
The careful reading of the several num-
bers already issued impart anything but
favorable impression of the purity of
the source from whence is drawn the in
spiration Of the specimens of the " best
modern thong t" which are to be found
in its pages. In only the second number,
Up 1917 we find it glibly adopting and
.gravely taking for granted the malicious
libel so common at that date with the
rabidest Of violent partisan Republican
journals in the North, to the effect that in
the then impending political contest it
was not by any means to be expected
that there could be fair election in the
South. In advising against the sending
of campaign "orators" into the South,
it says: 1t would involve a profession
of faith in the existence of free elections
"where it is well known they do not ex-
"ist." Of course itswould be absurd to
ask this grave and solemn infant member
of the great family of newspapers where
it got it's information on the subject, and
still more absurd to attempt to convince
it that it was assuming, for fact, a well
known " and thoroughly silly and mali
cious campaign libel upon the people of
the South.
Notwithstanding this unfortunate and
perhaps excusable blunder, made SO early
in its career, the youthful candidate de-
velops promise of better things, and it
may be that by the time it has attained
the age Of its great prototype, the New
York Nation, it will far surpass that able
but not entirely unprejudiced periodical
in its own peculiar sphere. Certainly it is
to be hoped that it may take warning
from the Nation and not again be led by
blind prejudice into committing SO violent
an injustice towards people whom it
processes to honor and presumes to advise
as to their political duties. 1t is the one
great defect in the conduct of the Nation
that it often drops into the lowest forms
Of prejudiced partisanship when the South
is under discussion, without the pretense
Of investigation or inquiry as to the truth
or falsity of the position it assumes.
The american, few weeks later, after
the election has filed it with complacenoy
at the triumph of "the best modern
thought" in the election of Garfield, finds
that it can afford to be trihe more mag
unanimous, and condescends to admit that
"the people of the Southern States have
"taken their defeat with great deal of
"good humor. They behave far better
"under their disappointment than did
"their Northern allies. There are many
"reasons for this. The first ID their larger
experience in such matters. They know
"an Appomattox when they see one"
This tannt, reminding brave people
of defeat in arms which happened six
teen years ago, never came from the pen
of any soldier who contributed in the
field to that defeat. It is even unworthy
of an occupant Of one Of the many bomb
proof positions enjoyed by people who
have since displayed their patriotism in
words; but it exsmpli6es the littleness
of 9 class in the North who set up as
mentors and public oracles towards peo-
pie they have never met either on or of
the battlefield. I'LL,
The Anse>ioaa, In the issue from which
we are quoting, i(Nov. IL, p. e5) CON.
tinues:
sAnoshsr i, that they have local suC-
" cess 70 Offset national defeat. They
" kept their half Of the bargain. General
Hancock was not beaten south Of the
the line, Yet another Is thst they are
more intsIligent class than the Dem
ocrats Of the North, with more stafes-
"manlils iaatincss, and, therefore, ersassr|
eSpspit TOR aeespting TIE sitpatiop.
Butfhe ehisf reason q the chasacteF Of