The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-17
DECENCY REPROVED.
An Honorable Competitors Manly
Defense Ofa MaIigned Brother.
Columbia RediSter


The New York World thus berates our esti-
mable contemporary, the Neaps and Courier,
for refraining from that which indicated its
good, sense and good taste TO all respectable
people.
Says the .senseless and sensational New
York sheet:
"Some idea Of the nature of journalism in
the South may be gathered from the fact that
the Charleston Neps Of last Sunday had no
editorial reference to the verdict in the Nc.
Dow case. The fact was quietly announced
under the heading: ION Trial for his Life-Dr
Mellow Acquitted Of the Murder of Captain
and proprietor had been foully assasinated,
and HIS slayer pronounced innoccht, absolute
ly afraid TO raise its voice 10 protest against
the injustice"
Now, this is of akin with the New York
WOrldS sensational and untruthful way Of
dealing with most things it touches. What
would this Northern critic have? The Ne1US
and Courier watched every detail Of the trial,
and gave the most exhaustive reports OF the
same Of any journal in the country. Ifthere
was any failure ofjustice in the case the Ne,0s
and C0,a'ier'S painstaking report OF all the
proceedings, detailing minutely every little
OF evidence and every point made by counsel
in the case, was the very best and surest
means of holding up to censure those who
were responsible for the failure. What would
Il howl over the verdict on the part OF the
Ne,Os and Courier have added to the popular
indignation? The N6t0s and Courier naturally
felt some disappointment at the verdict. 1t
was III one sense JndI OWN cause.
The spirit that had so long animated the great
Carolina journal had been quenched forever.
The natural impulse under such circum-
stances would have been 10 cry aloud against
the verdict.
But our contemporary, seeing and feeling
that whatever 1t should say would be receiv-
ed as the hot words Of a partisan, judiciously,
and, as We think, wisely and most properly
left the stubborn facts 1t had carefully put be-
fore the public from day to day'to their work.
The journal could not possible be supposed
deeply and bitterly on the result. 1t stood,
however, to a certain extent, In the same po-
sition OF the bcreaved lady who has been left
to deplore the untimely and wretchcd Slay-
ing Of her brilliant and loving husband. What
would have been thought of this strck en-
lady had she denounced the verdict and
clothed ertnouSe In mourning? Such conduct
would have excited disgust and could have
added nothing 10 the force OF that silent sor-
row which so touches the heart or honest
manhood everywhere. No! our Charleston
contemporary has pursued exactly the proper
course, whether 1t was consulting its own
selfrespect or that course which would i'm
press upon the public deeper sense Of re-
sponsibility under the facts of the case which
it had been at the unsparng pains to place
before it as the trial proceeded. Then we
World undertakes to say that the Ne,cS and
Courier was ":bsolutely afraid to lift up its
voice In protest against the Injustice"
And when II intimatcs that the fear of DIR.
McDOwS shot gun had moved our contcmpor-
airy ~ silence, II is q dastardly reflection,
which shows anything else but manliness and
courage on the part this New York censor.
Brave men do not gratuitously attribute the
motive OF fear to their fellows.