The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
FROM WASHINGTON.
j. Athens johnson, Esq, Wrius
Letters-ThOugh and Language.

Letters-ThOugh mt ana Language.
Washington D. c, Aug, 26th 1897.
Dear Mr.. Wilson Il enclose copy OF COM
munication. sent to the News and Courier
presume 1t will appear in the paper, and
since 1t rounds out and completes the subject
80 far:as 1 an concerned, would be glad Tor
you to think 1t Interesting enough to be cop
led from the News and Courier into the
Press and Banner.
If 1t has not appeared by the time the next
issue OF the Press and Banner is ready to go
to press, publish 1t anyway with this explana.
'ot' n0'''' = A' wy j. Altheus Johnson.
Washington, d. c., August 25, 1897.
Mr.. Editor: ! was somewhat am USED at
the manner In which you took up arms
10 the Press and Banner on the subject OF
Senator Tillmau,s mastery OF the English
language. do not want TO fight In a field
you 10 fight II 1 can help 1t. II you will
only listen TO q few words, sent under the con-
yoy of q flag of peace. think you will see
there is not much ground for dispute between
CIknow 1t is very hard to distinguish be-
tween thought and the language In which
thought is conveyed. Style is detriment
until 1t becomes SO clear and colorless that
nothing seems to intervene between the read
er or hearer and the object to which his at.
ten ton is directed. Ifthe style Is isaccomplish-
ing It's purpose, the hearer or reader to whom
addressed does not stop or think TO distin-
guish between the thought expressing 1t. He
Is epgrossed with the thing itself that Is
spread out before him, and the lights that are
thrown upon 1t, and not with the vehicle In
which 1t Is brought. He may be thrilled with
emotion, or Intoxicated with delight, and
little is be thinking that language in mas
ter's hand is the instrument that Is being
played upon TO awaken the feelings the speak
er or writer desires to call forth. One man
will have good strong quality OF English
that will produce the effect desired another,
a muddy, diluted aaticle that could not ex-
hllarate under any circumstances.
Did you ever hear person who agreed W lin
Mr.. Tillman In the object he was, advocating
say that Tillman was only q blackguard and
q singer OF epithetsS Are not such charges
brought against him by persons who disap,
prove of the subjects of his advocacy and
who seek In that way to answer, IN part az
least, the subject matter of his speeches
Concerning the things he advocates, l know
there Ia q line OF cleavage, sharply, ana, In
some places, fercely drawn but thought to
avoid the fires that glow about those places
by saying, as ! did. in my letter TO the Press
and Ban ner: at Is not TO MIR. Tillman consi-
dered with reference to the objects to which
his speech Ia directed that am here calling
attention. For the purposes of what am
now saying he may either right or wrong,
wise or unwise, In the uses to which he ap-
plies his mother tongue"
to Mr.. Tillman Is not more an objection to
the ends he has In view than TO the manner
In which he handles language to accomplish
his ends. Or has he attained 10 such complete
mastery OF the language that you find II I'M
possible to distinguish between the one and
the otherP j. Altheus Johnson.