Blue-grass blade., 1895-08-04
Two EDITORS
Of The "Independent Pull
pit" Climb My Spinal
Column.

ing opened WlJn mOSt numDlc
apology for so doing, having beg
ged that the critics would spare me,
] hoped and believed that the few
thoughts | there expressed would
be allowed to pass quietly out of
thought and memory of their read
ers, unhonored, unwept and un-
sung. But | was doomed to disap-
pointment. My simple views, or
perhaps it was the way l expressed
them, have stirred the wrath of the
mighty Achilles of Kentucky Prohi-
bitionists, Mr.. c. c. Moore, of the
Blue Grass Blade, who, however,
unlike the Greek Gudging from the
way he kicks) is strong of heel and
light of head. He honors me with
a criticism which, though not
couched wholly in language best
fitted for a cool and candid discus
sion between gentlemen; though not
weighted down with logic and
sense; destitute of that essential of
true citicism, consistency; rich in
the conceit and vanities of the au-
thor, is interesting as an example
Of fanatical intolerance, spiteful big
otry, vain conceit and impudent
contumely, disguised as Free
thought.
Mr.. Moore is rather an old man,
so l understand, hence it is with
some hesitation that l say anything
personal in controversy with him,
but when he attacks the editor of
the Pulpit with an article as per-
sonal, as bitter and uncalled for as
that which appeared in his paper
of July 7th, provoked by my pen
or any other, he thereby forfeits the
claim and the right to that rever-
ence and respect which is ordinari-
ly due those of mature and expert
enced years. He opens with the
following paragraph:
81 want to say to you infidel ed
itors who chip in with the gospel
singers to apologize for the liquor
traffic, that Just as soon as you con-
vince me that the trend of infdel
literature is to encourage that
damned outrage ! will step out of
the infidel literature business"
This is characteristic of its au-
thor. The expression, 81 want to
say" is an index of the character of
the man that wrote it. 1t lays bare
all the egotism of one who believes
that the world is waiting with bat
ed breath, extended ears and start
ing eyes to hear what he has to say.
In this particular instance he is
about to address himself to the In-
fidel editors who CHIP in with the
gospel singers" From what fol-
lows, l presume he classes the edi-
tor, or in this instance it should
have been the temporary editor, of
the Pulpit, with those who "chip
in," etc, but as l know nothing of
the class here designated, except
through the article now under con-
sideration, l decline the classifica-
ton.
AS to "apologizing for the liquor
traffic." which in my article ! /
branded plainly and unequivocally
as "great and growing evil" if he
interprets my utterances as any
such apology, he shows either as
thorough ignorance of the meaning
of good English as would Hindu
babe, or as thorough knowledge of
the art of equivocating as was pos
sessed by Mercury himself. 1 SIM
ply expressed my views on the sub
ject of prohibition. This Nr. Moore
will have to concede | had, at least,
the right to do. As for "convinc-
ing" him that the trend of infdel
literature is either this way or that,
it is but an other evidence of his own
ownness and self Importance, as no
body in this wide world was from
my mind than Mr.. C. c. Moore
when | penned the lines which
have so unexpectedly turned his
temper and aroused his wrath. In ,
deed, l meant not to "beard the
lion in his den, the Douglass in his
hail." not even did l mean to start
the "heathen" editor of this pois-
on edged blade from his lair, that
he might WELD his sword in awful
destruction. But since he is out
and after my scalp 1 have but a
natural wish to sell it as dearly as
possible.
Mr.. Moore reviews my article
with more or less ability, using, as
OCCASION offers, his interpretations
With maryland 1 must acknowl.
,dge tempting bats for prolonged
discussion; but that is neither here
lor there; care no more about
convincing him of the fallacy or
weakness of his position on the pro- I
question than l do about
onvincing him as to what the {
trend of infdel literature" is or is {
lot.
If he were caDable of seeing he 1