The Republican journal., 1883-11-08
the Journal Unfair?

We recently had note from an old subscri-
Der, who after paving a very handsome compi-
mcnt TO the journal, reminded us that any de-
lIton from strict fairness in its editorial col
umns is sure to be noticed by its many Demo-
cratic readers. We replied in personal note
that the journal intends to be strictly fair in
the discussion of political questions, although
the extreme unfairness of its opponents may
sometimes compel a resort to the alternative of
lighting the devil with fire: :" and IN conclusion
asked our friendly critic to point out the evil
dences of unfairne>> that prompted his remark
W. quote a> follows from his reply:
In answer | would say that in its editorial
conduct the journal has been very fair in it,
treatment of political opponents much more
50 than are very many political papers. A
seeming deviation from that course by you was
therefore sooner noticed.
In Your issue of Sept. last iii publishing
rumor from some source that GOV. McEner
of Louisiana. al the head of rug. had swim
died the State out of thousands of dollars and
that the name of Robert q. lugersoll of Wash
iugton, ID. c. had been entered for large share
of the plumber, in your editorial comments YOU
stated the fact of McEnery being Democrat
but said nothing is to the political character of
Col. lngor>cl, who is a leading Republican.
Democrats notice the charge which YOU often
make. recently particularly while referring to
the Ohio campaign. that the Democratic party
is the ,"n party. \ majority of the Democrat
ic party NAV be Observation-Disclosures vet they
claim. with good reason perhaps. 10 be Il, tenn
prratc and moral Il the Republicans. There
are other instances when v'nStftr Democrats
may have had reason to complain of unfair
treatment. but they should not complain if You
fight them with their own weapons. Your
many thousand Democratic readers will over
look Al occasional deviation from what they
consider strict fairness in so readable paper
a. j. he Journal.
This can hardly be considered 4 formidable
indictment. We did not state that COL Ingcr-
soil j. Il Republican because he is Il man of na-
lional notoricty, and it would have been as >u-
pcruou> To mention his politics Is to couple
with every notice of Hon. James G.. Blaine the
statement that he is Il Republican. This i nol
the case with McEnery. Few of our readers
could have known anything of him, his antecc-
dents or his politics. As to the second charge.
We fear our a lie has not read the Journal 50
attcnty, y ;,> We could wish. In speaking of
the Democratic party IN Ohio, in Maine and
elsewhere. A. the rum party, and the Republican
party a. the temperance party, we have quail
fed The statement by the admission that there
are Temperance Democrats and rum Republic
cans. But it is nevertheless true that the ma
iority Of the Republicans are temperance men
while HE majority of the Democrats are enlist
ed on the side of the liquor traffic. We do not
>ce how there can be any room for argument
on this point. What has been done in the way
Of temperance legislation has been done by Re
publican> and opposed is Il party by the Demo
crat>. II the exceedingly small minority Of
temperance men in the Democratic party should
succeed in converting the majority to their way
Of thinking the journal would gladly proclaim
the tact, but that contamination. though most
dclontly to be wished. is we fear, far distant.
In conclusion We may say that the journal
DOES not intend TO d. injustice to parties or to
individuals. 1t has sufficient faith in the prin-
rlp!cs il adv COATES to believe that they call for
no such warfare. II means to treat its political
opponents with the utmost fairness, and would
prefer to discuss public questions on an imper-
>ona basis. Personal abuse and recrimination
are not at all to it, taste, nor in our opinion to
that of the public generally.