Year: 1871

From the Franklin Review


In q recent issue Of the Columbia
Herald there appeared an editorial
cOndemning and censUring Colonel
Tyler, one Of the editors of the Mem
phis APPEAL, for an article written
by him soon after his return from the
meeting of the Press Association, re-
Gently held in Nashville. The editor
of the Herald regards the article of
Colonel Tyler as a reflection upon the
action of the Association, and eudeav-
Ors to give a history of the proceedings
of the Press Association, in order 10
show that the conduct of the Colonel,
pending these proceedings, was bad
tempered, petulant, sour and dOmi-
neeriug all through.


We were present at the convention
and took part in the proceedings. 1t
50 happened, also, that we were one
of "the two or three who followed
Colonel Tyler in his CaptiOus OppOsi
tiOn," Ito use the language Of the
HsraZd) and who opposed the incor-
pOratiOn into the constitution Of GER
tain obnoxious features, which we
thought, and still think, would destroy
the harmony and efficiency OF the
organization.


i'm what we are about to say we
have no intention Of attempting
defense of Colonel Tyler from the
charge of the Hrdld. That gentle
man is amply able to attend to that
matter for himself Buta the HerdidS
censure Of Colonel Tyler is, by impl-
cation, an equal Censure of those who
held the same views and took the
same action, we are under the neces-
sity Of giving its article a passing
notice.


In the first place, we affirm that
whatever lack of harmony character
lied the proceedings Of the association
was entirely due to the petUlance and
selfimpOrtance of the gentleman who
introduced the constitution 10 the
consideration of the members, and
who confessed to have been mainly
instrumental in its drafting. il gives
us no pleasure to make this attirma-
tiOn of any one, much less OF one
toward whom, from mere similarity
of pursuits, we are naturally inclined
TO be partial. But the truth of this
declaration forced itself upon US in
spite of that charitable and pleasant
frame Of mind in which we met our
brethren Of the press on that Occa-
sion.


We went to the convention, COM
paratively a stranger. Especially,
with DR. White, we had never enjoyed
an acquaintance, either intiTiate or
formal. And, looking upon him from
the standpoint of an unprejudlced
spectator, when he introduced the
constitution, with modest remarks
disclaiming any special pride Of pa
ternity and desiring the association to
do with it as they saw fit, willing that
they should alter it, amend it, or even
subject ii to wholesale eXpurgatiOn,
ana recommending it at best as a
mere skeleton or nucleus, or guide to
the adoption Of ampler and wiser
provisions, when we heard him deliv-
ering himself of this modest and emil
nentiy appropriate introduction, we
thought we recognized in him that
spirit which constitutes the very es-
senee Of harmony, aud hence gave
him Onr silent but emphatic endorse
ment.


But, it was just st this point that
the doctors petulance OVercame his
dignity. The modification Of the two
sections had deeply wounded him,
The verbal alterations that followed
were 40 many irritants Of the wound.
Being secretary, the duty OF making
the changes devOlved upon him, This
duty he made a show Of performing
but always with such perverse relnc-
tance and in q style of such ungraclOus
compliance as TO excite the astonlsh-
ment Of those who look for dignity IN
the conduct Of official business.


We found ourselves mistaken, how
ever. No sooner was the COnstitu-
ton taken up to be acted upon by sec
tions. than its author exhibited that
impotence and restiveness which a
sensitive mind naturally feels when
a sacred thing is irreYerently touched.
The chief points OF contention were
in the section which provided for the
creation Of a kind Of life insurance
fund, by paying stated sum upon
the death of a member, and the sec
Ond which required al the editors
and prOprietOrs Of any one establish
ment to pay the initiation Zee Of tive
dollars before being entitled so-a seat
in the convention. This latter sec
ton, besides being gimpraetieable, bore
with especiai hardship upon, and
was plainly Objectionable 10 the city