The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-24

be added that the product is exceedingly small
Our Richmond contemporary required nearly
four months to understand that II had COM
mitted gross ofrense and printed a libel against
the Virginia general assembly and public, and
to prepare and present an apology. On October
7th two weeks ago, 1t expressed editorfally
regret that on June sth. It printed editorally
what 1t now describes a violent and intern
perate attack on the assembly, and confession
that the June article should not have been
written printed. Certainly this is penitence
by slow freight the awakening of torpid con-
science with what we feel justified In describ-
ing as extreme deliberation.
We are not informed what moral medicines
or mental stimulants brought about this graft
flying result Presumably the article of June
Sth, referred to and practically withdrawn on
October 7th, was one of those in which the Vir-
ginia assembly was referred to being under
the control of "punderbund" and the obsequi-
Gus tool of greedy lobby. 1t would be inter
esting to know what sources of information
brought about the modification of opinion In four
months. through the slow passing of one hundred
and twenty long summer and early autumn
days, Of two thousand, eight hundred and eighty
hours OF painful thought and throes of study
Of situation. The assembly adjourned in the
late winter Of 1911 Its records was complete,
Its history known Sixteen months later the
TimesDtspatch informed It's constituency that
the body composed OF. or ruled by scamps
and weaklings. Yet twenty months after the
adjournment our contemporary confides to the
public that its sixteen months opinion was
hasty and Incorporate
The facts and dates make occasion for curl
Gus study and contemplation Of the courses of
editorial incubation and CESSATION. Sixteen
months to discover a supposed crime: four
months to discover that the discovery pre-
mature or imaginary, like DR.. Cooks finding of
the north pole There must be some law of
ern the weather, but 1t battles so far, scientific
research and investigation.
The damage was done People outside the
State who read the Tsm,es-Dtspdtch, including
confiding editors OF Baltimore newspapers. were
given the distinct. slanderous impression that
fiIblnla Is CoHLioiItu ny Iudt lAipIes~
sion necessarily was and is injurious to our
people, The Republicans were provided with
ammunition, quoted from supposed Democratic
publication at the capital. and handicap
was put on the Democrats on the fighting line,
laboring and battling CALAMITY for their party.
Nevertheless it is better late than never, and
while the lamp holds out to burn the vilest sin.
ner may return. We may place the confessed
error as one of the head and not Of the heart
as the consequence of deficiencies In thinking
apparatus rather than of evil or wicked intent
so We may pity and forgive, while feeling the
wish that those who do not or cannot think or
who do not know what they are talking about
would choose something else with which to ex.
pertinent than important newspaper
The Roanoke Times finds In the incident
some for bright anticipation. In the arti-
Gle OF October 7th the Times Dispatch takes oc-
casion to say that the Roanoke Times disregards
facts. Judging the future mental operations of
our Richmond contemporary by the past we feel
happily that have four months obligation
for an apology. About February 8, 1914 we
shall look to see in the Times Dispatch a dec
laration that this declaration Of October 7th was
Incorporate and should not have been written
and proclamation OF the indisputable fact that
the Roanoke Times Is great and good newspaper
and the great expounder of facts. Within these
coming months our Richmond contemporary may
have filtered painfully through the corns with
which its brain department seems to be afflicted
the truth that the Roanoke Times has denied
and denounced steadily It's accusations against
the Democratic administration and legislature
of this State, and has called vainy for proof OF
slanderous allegations or cessation of senseless
repetition Of them-and has been right. and IL
proved to be right. Is acknowledged even by
the Times Dispatch to have been right all along
THE MONEY NEEDED.