The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-08-01


logic in its political editorials since Grant
was considered barred by the statute of lin
itations governing the Presidency, and
nothing but the extension of its columns
could make IL dulcr guest than 1t is.
For the benefit of the few needless farmers
who occasionally scan its surface, we wish
to remark that it has recently been making
conspicuous fool Of itself. For many
years past ii has been doing all in its power
to build up an impossible barrier between
the North and the South, and has lost no
opportunity to add to the structure. Sub
terfugos and lies of every conceivable de-
sign were resorted to in the mad search for
material. Finally, n sad day came. Tho
President of our common country was shot
down by an assassin. The Inter- Ocean,
forced to conceal its real feelings by
the respect due to popular opinion,
joined in the expressions of re-
grct They came from every por.
tion of the United States; from the
South as well rs the North. In comparison
with the generous outbursts from tho South
crn States (Which were grammatical as
well as patrotic) the cheap sympathy in
the Inter- Ocean, made respectable merely on
account of the papers locality, pales into
insignificance. In the course of few
weeks, as was generally expected, this great
paper repents. 1t never had II man con-
nectcd with it in any capacity, whose 10y
atty had been tried on the field, or who had
said or written anything to entitlc him to
n post of danger. But, all the same, it
realized one morning, that IL had gone too
far in extending the olive branch to the
Americans who live south Of Mason and
Dixon's line, and it fastened to correct the
mistake. The method adopted was en-
| tirely natural and consistent. The South
was given credit in a mild way for being
sympathetic, but attention was called to
the fact that Democracy and Ignorance al
ways flourish together. Now, we ask in
all candor, what does this mean? Who can
point out either good sense or good logic in
the above? Even granting the proposition
that Democrats are ignorant, does the Inter-
Ocean mean to imply that nobody but its
own highly cultivated staff is entitled to re-
grct that the President is suffering from n
wound Does it mean that a man has to
be educated at Yale, and woman be grad
uated at Vassar, before indulging in n ma
tional sorrow? What does it mean?
Why it means bosh and rot like all the
editorials written with view to tempt the
patience of the South and create feelings
that may find expression in some words to
benefit the sneaking campaigners of the
bloody shirt. Mere child's play. The haz-
ing trick of a college sophomore could not
be more palpably childish and contcmptible,
but it would enjoy the palliation of being
the act of boy instead of a man.
What, let us ask the fcr0cious editor of
the Inter- Ocean, had the South to gain by
such an honest display of sympathy? What
particular personal bcncfit did the citizens
of Charleston and ATLANTA derive from
meeting and passing resolutions of condo
lcnce three days before such an idea had
penetrated the skull of any man in Chicago
What interests were advanced, what
selfish aims promoted, when the South
exclaimed in all sincerity that terrible and
lamentable crime had been committed? Did
the Inter- Ocean feel like filing suit for
damages when the Southern press referred
to the victim as our President?"
How absurdly childish this is! No man
with an honest love for his country, and q
firm hope in the future of its institutions,
can fail to be disgusted with such pitiable
display of partisan animosity. For years and
years tho South has strivcn to prove that it
accepted the results of the war in good
faith; that it meant fellowship; that it
wanted peace. 1t has endured persecution
in every possible shape, from the thieving
carpet-bagger to the incessant lies of the
Northern press. At last, in tho midst of
profound harmony, the country is startled
with the news of a murderous assault on
its Chief Executive. In defiance of the
doom Of outlawry passed upon them by such
Ocean, the citizens of the South venture to
express their abhorrence of the crime
venture, in short, by one more honest ef-
fort, to show that they believe in the Con-
stitution Of the United States; that they
respect its duly appointed instrumentalities; /;
that they detest any and all violent means of
changing those einstrumentalities that peace
anu BoOu orucr anu BOuu government are
equally dear to all sections of this land
This is what entities them to suspicion and
abuse. They have the satisfaction of know
ing however, that the Inter Ocean remains
alone in its glory. 1t enjoys the proud dis
tinction of being the only paper in this vast
country which has attempted to cast slurs at
the sincerity of the South and our South
ern friends have sense enough to know that
the staff of the Inter Ocean is no more n
gauge of patriotism now than it was when
volunteers were called for twenty years ago
1t sought the rear on that occasion, precisely
as it does to-day; and we add that only an
atmosphere which bred such National
scamp as Guiteau could tolerate such Ma
tional disgrace as the Chicago Inter- Ocean.
: What Mcclure Knows About kissing.
Boston Globe.
In these prosaic days 1t is refreshing to
see the Philadelphia Times lightly turn to
thong hts OF kissing and print column of
editorial instruction in that spoony art. 1t
says Ito kiss with propriety requires II
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