New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-01
THE CASE OF 4 MORAL LEADER

THE CASE OF 4 MORAL LEADEh.
We have received letter from H. =. D'"'
crest. wine describes himself as the manager OF
.Demorests Family Magazine concerning al
editorial article printed in The Tribune recently
HAT article commented on a publication III
The Ncw-York Herald" exposing Demorest anu
his magazine in q low and petty trick played
on his readers and or the Infanta Of Spain, VINO
,yos ,hon in this country on the formal invita-
tion of our Government AS the guest or the
Nation The facts of the case as char6ed Ill
1.-The Herald and az now admitted Dy Dei'-
crest. are that he hired somebody who knew
a Young lady who known 10 inc All
fanta TO secure Il letter from Her llighness
containing an amiable expression or TWO coll
ceining the pleasure she had had in her American
visit. The young lady, 10 whom the ihiah''
was disposed to be gracious, her fathef having
been an American Minister to, spanish
American country and her mother being spanish
lady, obtained the letter. 1t was addressed 10
her. possibly with the understanding that some
suitable public use might be made of 1t. But
il goes without saying that the lntanta had NJ
idea that she was being made use OF TO "dNcf-
tisc this Dcmorcst's Magazine and still less
that the compliment she paying TO young
lady was the object of paltry bargain.
Having got the letter. Dcmorest mutilated
and then printed it with farinS state
ment claiming to be himself the recipient
of the 1nfanta's especial honor. He declared
that she had chosen his magazine IS
the organ of her grateful Acknowledgements to
the American Nation, after refusing the requests
of other publications. with more of the like pre-
tcnti5us humbug. The owner of this magazine is
". Jennings Demorcst. IL pclson who aspired to
e., IN cf
fall, and we suggested the other day that Il man
who aimed to lead great moral revolutions ought
to be engaged in IA better business than this.
The communication of II. G. DemQrest. who is the
other Dcmorcst's son. is in answer
10 our comments 1t says, in effect. that the
father and owner, talso advertised publisher y,
had no connection with the trick until the son
and manager had arranged to perpetratc IT, and
thut in the opinion of the son and manager il is
a highly honorable affair, of which he Is rather
proud
In reciting the circumstances Of this dirty bus-
ness which he actually describes as n commercial
enterprise" Demorest drags into view the young
lady who, willingly, foolishly or uninowlnsly,
as the case may be- is no less the victim OF ms
measly advertising scheme than the lnfanti. Ills
statement Of facts may lie quite true but 1t Is
enough here to repeat his explanation that ne
mutilatcd the Infanta's letter, (which did not show
Il knowledge OF his existence. and distorted IT INTO
a tribute to his glory, merely for the purpose OF
sparing the feelings of this young ladys mother,
who, when she heard Of the matter, was quite
alive 10 its nature and painfully anxious to
amend it, He thinks his connection with the
affair "perfccly honorable one in which
opinion IL would be hopeless to attempt 10 disturb
him. Not the least nauseating of the circum-
stances surrounding this affair is the insensibilIty
of the Demorcsts TO its real nature In their
minds. il is commercial enterprise TO cnttap an
inexperienced young woman, the orphaned dahgli-
ter of a gallant soldier of the Republic, in trick
on the Spanish Princess and they nothing
Objectionable in Misrepresentation intended to
place themselves before the public as the recipients
of a letter from distinguished parsonage who
probably had never even heard of them. They
are rather proud Of such methods 10 get a few
dirty dollars.
Our original comment this affair was adj
dressed the elder Dcmorest, and not 10 his SON,
of whose existence we we're unaware. The desire
dccming feature of his communication, cannot be
allowed IL is not claimed that the elder and
responsible Dcmorcst did not know of the scheme
before il was actually and finally accomplished.
lie not only failed 10 put an immcdat" stop TO II,
but hc proceeded 10 get all he could sdt of il, and
it Will be his fitting reward 10 get the contempt
of the community.