The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-08-23
A Dignified Response to an undigni
fed Article-Still Sticking to the
subject-A Challenge but
no Fighting.

To THE EDITOR:
Seek out communication in one of your late
issues signed "A. z."-I1ot g Shrimp" for we
are different persons and look it over. think
it will be impossible for you to find in it one
single nndignihed expression or ono word, the
use of which might lead even to the foundation
OF O charge upon me that had wished to cause
belief in Intentional acrong on the part Of the
Police Jury in the sale of the lots therein
spoken of. essayed to show legally that the
sale was without authority and unnecessary, but
it seems that have touched the spleen bag of
your neighbor and caused the oozing therefrom
of an editorial entitled A Sad Case.'' The ar
ticle dealing in petty personal epithets is worth
noticing for two reasons: 1st To question its
legitimacy and End. because through it 1 may at
tain portion of the end for which my commu-
nication was written, the other portion without
any aid L have reached. In order to obviate
again being stigmatized an lass" and, posi-
bly, hoodlum, sneak thief.or pick pocket Ito
which I find myself liable, because bold enough
to enter public print,) I say right here that it
is nay spish and rule to deal only in language
that one gentleman might nse in seeking a dig
nified argument with another, and to the author
of "a Sad Case say come on, but if he wishes
to meet and speak with me, he must do SO in
manner which can recognize, or he will be
treated as he deserves-with silent contempt.
1st. have always understood that 'legiti-
mate editorialship' was a brave, august,
proud goddess, female Mentor, who refused to
demean herself by the ntterance of aught that
was not typical of her grandeur and who, with
her pen" mightier than the sword ''-com-
manded respect for her dignified department"
Could the editorial be the offspring of such a
one? Plainly not. Then it should have been
stillborn. If 1T has been placed in the paper by
or with the.previous consent of its Board of
Directors, which doubt. / say to them, that
in the mind of the public they are condemned,
and advise. in order the Democrat may hence
forth show decisive and lofty character as
public spirited journal, it were better they put
foot on editorials using uncalled for private
stign,as upon persons aeho are dealing pith
public matters.
l. End. II there was any necessity for the sale of
the property, l AJAX the writer of the article to
state it in answer to the questions asked, IF
wrong. set me right" Let it be done in
bold manly manner, argument for argument
For instance he might have said, your atten-
ton is called to the acts of 1912, for the au-
thority to SELL have learned since writing of
their existence, You see. His ridicule has been
a misfortune to the Democrat, and has harmed
none but himself. it has not had effect enough
to throw me off my guard, nor to cause me to
lose my temper. And believing that from the
style of the article, have recognized the au-
| thor. and knowing him as one who is. if he will
be, worthy of crossing pens with me, l chal-
lenge him to answer in a proper way what
necessity there was for the Police Jury to sell
the so-called school House Square," and re-
| mind him that dignity always, us he knows,
gets the better of pettiness. Al