NO.
KDITOWAI.8.
fiOO
There i no investigation that tends to
devdope the critical ncmnun more than
in oxamlning studiously tliu works of
literary men. The various similes
of character there represented, de
mand that the reviewer ho continually
guarded that a true revelation or It is mo.
lives may he ascertained. An author
limy think he can conceal his motives by
sinking thorn deep in his heart. But the
movement of ills intellectual powers, di
rected by his inner nature will betray
him In his II rat words. He is harsh, he
is severe, or he is courteous; he bows to
nmbition and disdains friendship, he
courts popularity for honor or flatters
critics for policy. Every word that ho
writes glows with its intended lustre,
ami in spite of his efforts to conceal, the
light discloses all to the reviewer; and
his history becomes a monument to his
fame or a warning to humanity.
To fathom all this in the mere writings
of an nuthor, requires that line and noble
standard of action that few possess. To
sepcrntp and mould fiom the crude ma
terinl of letters and words, the motives,
the distinctive character and the symotri
cal beauty ot tho whole imago, is an en
dowment that crowns tho person, and
lifts his genius to dwell among tho finer
arts.
I'OLrnOAL JOURNALISM.
In our day, much ol what is written
and si'id is aimed at tho overthrow of
what is thought to bo superstition or proj
uilicc. To a largo extent, this is all very
well; but in the moans we adopt, do wo
not practico a conduct similar to that of
the eaily Protestant reformers ? The Cath
olic hurls at them tho taunt that they were
opposed to burning only when in danger
of it themselves.
Wo refer especially to tho influence of
tlic political journal. Whether ltopubli
can, Ureen.lmck, or Democratic, tho
newspaper claims to bo tho advocate of
truth and reform. Yet, for political oll'cct,
It perverts and exaggerates the news, until
it is nearly impossible to find tho actual
facts amid tho rubbish that is heaped up.
on thorn.
Tho radical Republican seldom reads
any other political news than that or the
ferociously parlisun journal which is with
him a household necessity. If ho does
glance at a Democratic paper, it is with a
cynical sneer, and a bias that precludes
an impartial judgment as to the truth or
soundness of its statements. Ho is con
stanlly taking exceptions to the secuhu
news in ins religious newspaper. A very
small matter will make him believe its
editor a Democrat.
Ho seems to bo persuaded that tho
democratic party Is a band of thieves,
liais and murderers. Ho denounces with
intemperate zeal, the real or alleged
Southern outrages that ho hears of, and is
convinced that tho accession of a demo
cratic president would prove the ruin of
tho country. The Dcmociat, through tho
influence of his party paper, holds quite
as extreme views.
For those results, political journalism
is in a groat measure responsible. Super
stition indeed dies hard!
Tho point wo wish to make is tho neccs
sity of looking on both sides of any quos
lion, if wo would form an unbiassed opin
ion. It is very doubtful if perfection ex
ists in any political platform: yet it is
quite likely that every one contains some
measure of truth. The tendency of the
political pross, however, Is to encourage
that slavish devotion to parly which will
cause a man to lose sight, at times, of vi
tal questions of government, and to vote
for a roguo In his own party rath:- than
for an honest candidate of tho opposing
one,
AN KNTKM'KISK KOU TUB "STUDKNT."
With the financial basis of the Student
conspluuosly unsound, there rusts in tho
minds of tho Hoard of Managers, great
anxiety for Its safly. And while they lr vo
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