Year: 1870

a writer in the New York Tribune.
(Mr. Greeley probably, who is pt acc.
naker,) commenting upon the growing
disposition Of men, and women too, TO
fly to canes and c)whides (it not pistols
as a means of redressing wrongs, or SUP
posed wrongs inflicted through the news
papers, holds this sensible language:


This business Of chastising is getting,
IT seems to Us, little stale and tedious.
1t would he quite refreshing to hear OF
somebody who, having been blown TO "A
great hight it the journalistic columns,
dId stolcally determine 10 regard his in
voluntary elevation with profound con
tempt. Speaking for ourselves personal
ly, and as a general thing, we had rather
be despised than caned, and anybody
who feel disposed, is, by these presents,
accorded full liberty to regard Us with
the utmost loathing and horror; to CON
slider us absolutely beneath his notice and
especially to treat us with that form of
contempt which is called and known as
the s lent. In this micellaneous world.
we have never dilatcd with the absurd
ambition OF trying to please everybody.
Spades are spades, and none the less so
though we may enphatically designate
them as ShOvels. In the course of human
events, Of which destiny has designated
us as annaists,it sometimes becomes nee
essary to speak Of human obliquities,and
to speak Of them with n reasonable de-
gree Of sharpness. 1t happens-of course
at rare intervalS-tbat newspapers should
sometimes speak the truth, not merely of
measures, but of men and sometimes TO
mitigate an offtnse against deccncy is
substantially to pdblish not ga lie { for
that is Il word which it is never proprr
to use,) but let us say "an untruth,"
whlchis more comfortable expression.
Therefore, we may be obliged to call n
should we do so, we hereby permit ALLOW
and license that man to consider us can
ed or cOw-hided- to post the fact as if
1t 'cere fact, in all bar-rooms, exchanges
and other places where men most do
congrcgate-to boast and brag and sway
ger up and down the town at our ex-
pcnse; aud to publish, if lie pleas 5, in
pamphlets, the particulars of our chastisC-
ment. lie will thus experience all the
pleasures without the perils Of heroic
action, while it will be our own good luck
to escape the pangs. For his consolation,
we assure him that he will find fools
to believe him to glory greatly in his
valor and our own discontinue TO mar
rate the tale in all companies to which
they may gain admission with a perfect
crescendO OF circumstances ; and to consid-
er us thing to he pointed at, ridiculed,
and despised. He will thus Acquire i'm
mense reputation our own will mou be
materially hurt everything will go on
serenely, without recourse to the low and
vulgar expedient of fogging, which is
only fit for the Five Points or Donny-
brook Fair. Men beaten in the abstract
feel no bruises, while the complacency OF
men who SO beat them is perfectly illim-
table.


To suppose that newspaper can be
conducted without provoking the ex-
treme wrath Of somebody, is the acme of
absurdity. Part, and great part OF the
legitimate business of journalism is TO
give offense to those deserving of public
censure. When we are all virtuous to-
gether this will be different; at present,
the fact, however mortifying to the pride
Of human nature, remains fixed. The
censor must do his duty, although he may
himself be far from faultless. To the
honest public he is responible for veracity
and fair intention; to those he may OF
iend for the caning-m the abstract!