New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-27
AIR. couST0CK IS C1T0 THE CANSoR.

ANOTHER LETTER FROM WILLIAM d. OCONNOE.
TO me EdttOr OF The TribuRc
SIR: Mr.. Anthony COmstOck's hostility to
the nude appears extend TO even the naked truth
Facts seldom presented III more Disgusting drapeles
thnn az he gave them reporter in your issue OF A
,ust G. which regret not having noticed earlier. re-
serve for another communication particular reference
20 his highly dressed account or the way Mr. George
Cnainey was recently treated by the Boston postmaster
Mr. Tobey the matter itself well deserving to become
twicc.tod tale At present, only wish to offer few
words upon that part Of his staten nj to your reporter
in which says h7 has recently" been To Washington
to investigate the matter and assumes 10 sketch the
attitude OF the PostmaterG eneral toward Leaves of
Grass the sense of the deceptive ana elusive terms no
uses seeming be that Walt Whitmans book Is not to
be allowed 70 pass through tine mails.
The plan facts IN the case these: The principle
which the Postmss keeps in sight for the gov
orpInsut of his action in reference maiab.e matter
thoroughly respects literature and The rights OF the read
Ing public Ii distinctly understood-and By 10 one
better than Mr. Coms;ock despite his braggadcco-tha
any book belonging dayt realm OF letters, pub
shed openly byarep1table publisher recognized by tho
literary class admit OF into Libraries, discussed by re-
views accepted under any conditions By the general
public will not he excluded from the malls 1t was
upon this principle, Mr.. COmstock quite well under
stands that the page he refers TO as quoted by Ir
Chainey from Leaves OF Grass" in the form OF eahet
and attempted to he stopped by Mr. Postmaster ToDey
as obscene was distinctly declared by the Postmaster
General as Mr.. COmstock tries TO conceal, TO DC not
within the intent of the statutes against obnoxious
publications. aud allow 10 pass freely through the
Post Ofice-the book from which it quoted being be-
fore the Postm lstcriener by collateral reference IN
this connection at the same tune. Mr. COmstock also
well knows una covered and protected not the less sure
y because less directly by the same principle twas
upon this principle moreover as Mr. Coustock must re-
member with virtuous anguish, that the United STATES
postal antorhties recently refused 20 allow the De-
cameron to interfered WITH justly holding that the
hook belonged TO literature and not TO lust; and the
Decaneron" in its free gay, slluary mockery OF the
ascvous priests Of BoccaccO's time ana land uses very
much holder and broader terms, even Mr. Comstoek
Will admit, than any ne c"H ma IN tle ~oth .. fno
oS 90 is s"1fe from being hawked az and slain
by any housing owl OF the Vice Society. II Mr. Com
stock doubts it, let him whet his beak aud try.
He saws he Will. He tells your reporter 80. Let III
conaer for moment the character OF book he has
the lnsOlence 10 menace. The Rev. MI CHADWICK an
eminent Unitarian clorgyman has lately said That IL
tention The Roy. Mr.. Morrow, OF the Methodist Eps
il is robust and irilo but not obscene The Row W j.
Fox that brilliant English divine the pure theis and
ID, ais valiant AMI cultured solder OF democracy
n England It the shield OF his manly eulogy
saving that Ii Afforded clearer conception OF "HhI
man y majesty really f.. than anything have in all
convention ii forms Of word, deed act so far known
OF >" say iHg also that II Will In time Dtcoe pregnant
minted gold will be and appi ID TO every form OF
The olter and tae inner life" Ihe iustrions German
nnet FreiliOrath the most dstip ghshed all the mod
ern German poet devoted IL four mastery articles IN
succe .ye numbers OF The Augs6Vg Gazette, praising
n without qualification ana aiduS u as me
dag spring OF u and nObler order Of poetry kashn
has recently eulogized II, declaring that carses
srrnl ybt and keen a. rihebdls against Our deadlest
social stns" Thore1u It with tho mighty oriental
poem, and pronounced IL the supreme expression Of
American democracy and It's author the greatest demo
orat the world has ever Emerson literally ex-
ha.tcd panegryic upon 10 in his letter Of $500 nodcn-
tally calling IL the most extraordinary piece OF wit ana
wisdom America has yet contributed Defended ny
cleTgymen, xtOlled by poets Landed by schoars ana
men letters throughout the civilized world. accepted
by best readers IT may well be guarded IN rue mil
by the POstnastt But IN the lace OF thS pi'
lection Mr Anthony Comstock, special agent or Tue
United States Post Office Department, puuHoY an
nOunces he intends 10 arrest Its circulation uaIc
do it, dare him to lift so much ~ one nnseI ~
the effort. 1t Will be day for this s0On man IONS ~
remember. Hc IL "A signal example OF ny"nS9 ohsh
saying that sou never keep tho agent oi any Nco
society within the bounds OF his legitimate business
10 the removal of the stun when Dutch and Enslsh lGst
produeea and oalls French loEg lac hnllS Ms eeI
ges 70 cleaning out the Dawdy ncuOn tho in-cNlous
engravngs the thy devices OF the lechrr ana al ron
lat all may be- well with him. But let hlia dare u throw
into his that pearl or great price, tue DOCK VI
any honest autnur, let him venture 10 carry out MS
wicked menace regard to the work ~ the good gray
uoet and he will quickly find himself tho centre OF
tornado which viii only pass to leave the Unei States
Post ONCE without its scavengcr
WILLIAM DOUGLAS O'CoSNoR.
WASHINGTON. d. O.. Aug Ii 1852.