THAT SAXON WORD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1544, 2 July 1885, Page 2

THAT SAXON WORD.

Tc TBX Emtos. Sib, —In attempting a biographical . sketch of my career your correspondent " Anti Humbug " has no doubt am?sed the intelligent reading public of this dia» trict as much as he has certainly gratified me. There are, however, several very striking inaccuracies in his statement from, which a Shakespeare reader, with a keen appreciation of " how this world is given to lying" should hare been particularly careful to guard himself. Byway of demonstrating the series of bluna«rV"laiatj& which truthful " Anti-Humbug" huM fallen, and in the hope that this experi>t9 ence will have the effect of inspiring somanl degree of caution in the future, as if deed he is capable of profiting by hard mother—l will inform him ** lows ' He asserts that 'he proprietors of Ohristchurch Star found one of editors superfluous. This is not the they never did anything of the kind. I had the pleasure of filling the chair of the Star for four yean. I the Star a very poor thing, with a tion of, I was led to believe, a few dreds. Its size was increased twice my reign—the hut time to its dimensions—and when I retired it crushed with tdvertisementa, tha r being driven into the second eolnnut the third page, and its dreolation 4,000 copies par diem. The reason I re* signed was through a matter arising: fractal politics. The Siar under my chargejras]. ~fl I am proud to say, » powerful organ public opinion in the interest of the LibersxV cause and the working classes. II it haa since my retirement " sunk into ™ yard of the past" the reason must be) asked of my successor. Certainly than was no trace of decay in my time. " Anti-Hunbog " says I purchased the Liberty " Lord, how this world is given to lyiDg !" I did not purchase the Libcrtyi. I never wrote a line for it; I never, had the remotest connection with the Liberty in any shape or form. Of Society, a very different kind of journal, I am not ashamed to say that I was editor and proprietor. The tone of Society was taken from Truth, The World, and the leading society journals in England, which, though at first sneered at by ill-informed individuals like " Anti - Humbug " are now recognised institutions in the Mother Country, and have circulations ranging, 1 if I remember rightly, from 800 to 50J.000. Long extracts from their columns are constantly appearing in the daily journals. Soctity, during its two years of existence, was the means of exposing mora rottenness, and bringing about more reIfrmstban " Anti-Humbug " is likely to accomplish were he to sit down and keep writing for the next fifty years. The capital for Society did not come - from my partner, nor from any of the &| devil's 9wn chosen people either. "Lord, nl how the world is given to lying." '. JjJ I never wrote an abject apology to the Rev Oree, or to any other man. The apology I gave was the apology that one gentleman, who believed himself led into error through accepting the assurance* of others, might tender to another and feel po shame. If " Anti-Humbug" was at all ac« quainted with my career, he would bf aware of the fact that once before I was led into the writing of what was legally a li >el although the statements * were j" strictly true—l tendered an apology in that case, but it was not accepted. What was tendered me to sign was an abject apology, end X refused to pal m* name t% _a

It I preferred to stand the consequence of an action, when the damages awarded were only nominal When “ Anti-Hum-bug ” seeks to traduce me in reference to the Bev Cree, his readers will, doubtless, remember the Bev Fraser, the Bev Britkan and others—scripture readers and . quotera like “ Anti-Humbug ” —whom I unmasked. The “whole column of matter” which appeared in my name in the MaU had reference to the conduct of a public man in '* connection with a position, and has an interest far beyond the confines of Wakanui, otherwise it would not have been ' written. I did not come up here to address public; lam doing that almost i every dey. Still, ft is not improbable ■s that had my letter not been effective and unanswerable, the people of Ashburton would not have enjoyed “Anti-Humbug’s* contribution. « “ Anti-Humbug ” displays a woeful ' 1 knowledge of the subject of his biographical labors when he asserts that hi* journalistic career has been brief. Again, I might repeat the Shakespearean quotation which, like a whip, be has placed in my hands to lash him. Although >n this colony only twice in the editorial chair, I fcave been writing for public journals almost since my boyhood until this hour—for I am still engaged in the pleasant occupation of serving the people in the press, although my bio(rrapher evidently is not aware of it, This I will aay however, that never during my long and I think—notwithstanding my 1 society journal honorable connection with the press, have I found anything : such as exists in this town. Sir, amongst decent people—not to say gentlemen—the secrets' l tof the editorial chamber are held almost as sacred as those of the confessional. Here, Ih we found —And 1 the letter of “ Anti-Humbug ” reveals i the fact—that letters bearing the signa- 1 \ tores of well-known persons are shown by • those entrusted with their keeping to Tom. > Dick, and Harry who are supporting the i ' candidate against whose interest they are * supposed to be written. I declare, after < an experience of twenty years with the 1 press, that I have never known anything « so greedy in violation of all the decencies * of journalism, and I may add of good < K faith. But after finding that respectable " here people had lent themselves to the * crime of attaching the names of persons 1 In the' North Island, South Island, and 8 > elsewhere to public documents, I alight I | have been prepared for this—or indeed ’ j. anything. { Yes, I am pleased to inform “Anti- 1 i Humbug,” that I have written many lei- D ■ ‘ ten since my arrival in Ashburton, and b ‘ in connection with the election, some in connection with other matters. I have in my time filled several public offices, some of a high and responsible nature, bat never have I refused' what little literary abimy I may possess to assists man,in ■ humble circumstances engaged in the prosecution of what I was led to believe a good cause. ff»d “ Anti-Humbug ” afforded me

the additional happiness of going some yearn farther back In my career, he would have referred no doubt to the fact that for some seven years I filled the position of a magistrate and coroner. Bis letter ' forces upon my mind the painful reflection that during that period, possibly through my inexperience of “ how the world was given to lying,” I may have sent many a better man than this AutiHnmbog” framed himself a libeller and tradnoer, to gaol—a place which by the bye he may have already had some experience of.

Bix times have I sought the votes of the people for myself, and only once have I been defeated. Twenty years'sgo al- - most to a day I was returned at the top of m the poll over nine candidates. The menHf tion of this is not for any porpoie of ■[.boasting, bat to enable me to say that I have come to Asbborton to assist my old a. - friend Sir Ivess in the contest in which he is now engaged, snd if I know anything of elections at all he will not be disappointed. Whilst seornfulty rejecting all that is base, the electors are heartily sick of weak, high-toned falsetto What they demand is a hard working man of the people to serve the peopia and they will have him. Ivess will go in. Trusting yon will do me the justice to publish this vindication, I am, etc, James Tzrit. (We feel it quite unnecessary to reply to ' an insinuation Mr Izett has directed against ourselves.—Ed. G}