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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
^ d jit 9- Y Mjorality T A / _ This appears to have grown out of a speech i ^ ie J ? -. . Koebuck , m his plaice in the House of Commons , ^ . ^ 4 * 4 * be p ^ ftsed a . sweepin g Qopd eum ^ tioji on tbfc whole body $ f , ** £ wepap $ r conductors and editors , as a corrupt racs , H # made 3 $ exceptions what ever , and therein he was unjust ; but no further unjust than the Whigs have been in calling cell the corpora tion freemen corrupt . The accusation was niacto against the general body , and many of the individuals of that body thought
it incumbent on them to deny the charge individually . The style in which it was done rendered their attacks on J . A . Roebuck for the most part harmless ; but Albany Fonblanque plucked his shaft from the stores of keen satire , which never yet foiled hipa in fighting the freeman ' s fight , and , likening the vitupetfktigas of J . A , Roebuck against the Press to the vituperations of the Tories against the Press , he barbed his weapon with the epithet c scold / Napoleon , it is said , feared ridicule more than
vindictive threats or plots , and his judgment was sound . Simpleminded men alone are proof against ridicule , for they have nothing Xi > conceal ; and ridicule , to be effective , must operate by holding up to the public gaze those imperfections in character which the owner usually endeavours to veil . This criticism on the Press is excellently well written , and would have been still better , but for the tone of personal indigna *
tion which appears in it . A teacher of the people should be a philosopher ; personal feeling he should hold in abeyance , and j > $ yer l ? e stirred from his calm mood , save by the torrent of indignant patriot passion , which resents the wrongs done to hi * race * Spm ^ ihing of an irritable personal temperament there is in John Ro ^ vck ; let him train this petty irritability into the magnificent pfts ^ ion of patriot eloquence , and his power will grow broader and deeper , unchecked by mean obstacles .
. Tfrq following extract is a correct statement of the condition of most newspaper writers . * Th « consequence of this combination of circumstances is , that half a dqgen nameless , obscure , and often very unworthy persons , assume the direction q ( public affairs , and deal as they list with private and public repv ^ tiQP * . Another necessary con sequence is , that the temptations to which these persons are subjected become too great for their unaided ,
irresponsible virtue . They allow themselves , from mere private pique , to assert the gravest and most unjust charges against individuals ; fpr psrrty purposes they hazard the most outrageous falsehoods ; and { or moitey they sell themselves , consciences , abilities , and industry . There tfrecme or two exceptions to this statement ; some few of the editors db rsally consider their duty a great and responsible one , and are scrufniloit * M to their assertions ; but the great mass are such as f have h « re 4 * Miibs 4 th # m .
fjTbera is another , circumaUnca connected iviiK out manners which s ^ contributes greatly to degrade the morality of the writers forilhe p * f U « B <*\ P |* JM . In QUIT wi * , tt > cr * 4 wwliry a , ne **» ape » ffl&or if oot
Untitled Article
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1835, page 550, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2648/page/50/
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