The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-16
wATTERSON AND HIS CRITICS

Editor Henry Watterson is not dis
posed to take back any thing he said
in the article on the Four Hundre
recently published in his paper, The
Louisville Courier Journal, notwith-
standing the attacks which have been
made upon him. He comes back at
his critics in an editorial that covers
Pretty nearly a page of his paper.
ard while he wants it understood that
he does not believe there are no good
people among the Four Hundred. he
gives his critics to understand that he
has nothing to retract and is ready to
meet all corners in defense of the
position he has taken
In closing his article, he says che
was drawn into this present contention
lot of his own choice Yet if he had
to make his case before his Maker,
he would humbly represent that the
time has come when some voice loud
enough to be heard should be raised
against an increasing evil, having it's
center in the thing called by most
and hope to be forgiven in the event
his voice provoked a single echo III
response"
Some days ago the Morning News.
quoting from one of the New York
correspondents, stated that the New
York newspapers, thinking Mr.. Wat
terson's article too sweeping in its
charges, and too violent, had passed
it over in silence. There is no doubt
of course that Mr. Watterson did not
mean to condemn all against whom
he appeared to make charges. IL he
had made his meaning little
palmer his article would have been
more effective. It's truthfulness would
then have been recognized and it's just
ness admitted.
One of the New York papers, The
Sun, made some comments in its is
sue of last Sunday on Mr.. Waiter
sons second article. 1t admits thaS
there is moral rottenness" in the So
ciety against which AIR. Watterson
trained his editorial guns. and that
there are vicious indulgences which
appeal to over-stimulated tastes" but
it says these things are ITO be expected
in a society surfeited with luxury.
The Sun, however, points out that
while there is low tone of morality
in this society fragrant RIGHTEOUSNESS
is not frequent among its members
In the course of it's article 1t says:
Mr.. Watterson is justified in attribut-
ing moral degeneration to the women
of this society. Undoubtedly looseness
of speech has gone to an extreme
with some of these women. which is
not much exceeded in feminine ranks
frankly disreputa BILE. For example
not long since at a fashionable dinner
a man of the older school sat next tC
a young woman who had lately come
out" Across the table her mother. a
notab Bile social figure. entertained her
neighbor with loud language and ref
eIences so broad and even positively
indecent that the gentleman was
amazed, and. more especially that a
mother should keep up that sort OF
talk in the presence Of her young
daughter; but CHANGING at the girl he
discovered that her face showed only
signs of amusement. Profane express
hlbItS once HlpiDHtu 70 ht SoHnntI 70
men and 10 vile women are now poured
forth from feminine mouths OF this
set. Little Of the flavor of pure and
romantic sentiment can remain in such
surroundings.
II the sun Is well informed Mr. Wat
larson WAS not quite as reckless In the
charges he made as some 81 his crit
ics w0nl0 have II appear II may be-
tbat he charged offenaes Of which The
members 81 the -Four Hundred. with
very few exceptions. are not guilty
bat what fbe Sun says. assuming its
statements 90 b. true. indicates low
moral tone - section ~ society
which, oH account n fhe wealth and
culture ~ most ~ ifs membefs. ought
~ furnish 80 eEasnpie foT good clu-
Genahlp cad eoreef hylnE