The herald., 1894-03-10
PERSONALITY RUN MAD.

Mr.. Arthur McEwen is a gentleman
who has been for years known on the
Pacific coast Rs the wielder of tren-
chant pen. As an analytical and de-
scriptivs, and We should perhaps say
dscursive writer, he has few superiors
in California. He has perhaps culti-
vated invective to an undue extreme, in
this respect resembling Mr.. Ambrose
Bierce, who is even his superior in lines
in which. the Newspaper man aims to
resem blss muriAtic acid. Mt; Nee wen
has lately atarted out to publish q
weekly letter, and as we write three
numbers of this periodical have reached
the public. They are all characterized
by virility of style and an unouestioned
malignity of snimuS. His publication is
not an advertising sheet, and to that ex-
tent he has certainly released himself
fiom the necessity of observing conven-
tions. He declares most emphaticslly,
in his third letter, that every daily
newspaper in San Francisco except one,
and every weekly, except one (presum-
ably his OWN are under the direct con-
troll of the San Francisco Chronicle. Now
we confess that We do not believe this. To
the extent of certain newspaper comfy
this might, by jaundiced mind, be as
sumed to be the case. But in any es-
sential respect we do not believe it. As
Mr.. McEwen calls his own publication
"letter," the one weekly to which he
refers ia probably Mr.. Barry's paper
Mr.. McEwen, in publishing the style
of weekly embodied in his 'letter,"
has burned his bridges. He is waging
war to the knife and the knife to the
hilt, as far as an outsider can discern,
against persons. He would probably
prefer to have it accepted that he is
carrying on q war of principle. W Q
have no idea of contesting the merits Of
Mr.. NcEwen's crusade or of defending
the persons whom he attacks. But we
have grave doubts of the usefulness of
@ publication whose challenge to the
public is embodied in the fact that il
intends to say as many bitter things as
the exceptional talents of its publis her
render possible.
In the very nature of things such
publication must keep up its hot flavor.
Ginger is of its very essence. The ap-
petite OF the public, once whetted by
the highly favored condiments fur
nished in the first number, will demand
the same stimulating diet to the end.
The slightest let up will be followed by
a diminished demand for the paper.
This, of itself, is very unwholesome
impulse, and even with men of the
coolest judgment is liable to lead to ex.
cesses of inveetive Of lsmentable kind.
The man who starts out with infam'
matory harangues of the character
which has distinguished Mr.. McEwen'f
first three letters must keep up his
lick'' to the end. If he falters for mo
ment he is in danger of being looked
upon as a blackmailer who, having been
bought off, naturally relaxes in hiG
vehemence Under the spur Of such 6
possible imputation the most generous
OF men, especially if he wields facile
pen, is liable to run to unjust extremes
1t is very doubtful whether we have
in California, especially in San Fran
cisco, field sufficiently digniied to ad
NIT of Junius. After the most i'm
passioned phillippic has been writer
about the men who occupy our loca
mimic stage the question is apt to recur
ia the play worth the candle?" For {
while certain number of people WHIT
are at outs with fortune will read i'm
psssiOned diatribes agains. their more