The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2083, 8 January 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1870.

TYe have usually given oui’ contemporary, the Daily Times, credit for happy innocence, albeit with the utmost stietch of good nature we never could justly acknowledge its wisdom. We are sorry to see that oven the pleasing juvenility ot its literature is rapidly becoming tainted with the despicable vice of cunning. Yesterday we published some extracts from the correspondence laid on the table of the Provincial Council, proving that a gross mis-state-ment had been made by the Daily Times with the evident intention of unjustly blaming his Honor the Superintendent. Our contemporary, convicted unmistakably of "economising truth,” instead of a straightforward acknowledgment ol the error, endeavors to sneak out of its consequences by the following contemptible subterfuges. First, apparently, he gets some one, under the nom de plume of “ Brutus,” to write a letter drawing attention to the slander cast upon his Honor, of having ordered the Hoad Steamer without the concurrence of his Executive. Secondly, he takes occasion to add an editorial foot-note, which is almost as foolish and as wicked as the false statement he endeavors to wriggle out of; and, thirdly, he quotes without acknowledgment the extracts which we published yesterday, as if _ he had been at the pains of investigating the matter for himself. So far as plagiarism is concerned, we have no objection to his taking matter from the Evening Star, nor do we think his readers would have any reason to complain were he to make freer use of our evening’s issue than he does. We do not know that the lion enjoys his food the less because it has been ferreted out for him by the jackal. He might do us the compliment, however, of acknowledging where he got it from, if it is not beneath his dignity to use it. But we let that pass ; for as all that see the Daily Times see the Evening Star also, they of themselves are quite able to judge whence the matter is derived. Our present purpose is to call attention, on public grounds, to the uncandid foot - note appended to the letter of “ Brutus,” which appears in this morning’s issue ot our contemporary. What can be more contemptible than to insinuate that because " there was no Executive minute, the Daily Times had a right to presume. “ His Honor, urged no doubt by " regard for the public welfare, thought " tit to anticipate such a vote, but it will be seen that Mr Thomson de- " declined to send out a steamer in the " absence of an order from the Govern- " ment, which could not be sent until " the amount required had been voted "by the Council.” Referring our readers to the correspondence published in last evening’s issue, it will be seen that his Honor’s letter places the whole affair in a clear and distinct light. He says, Messrs George Gray, Russell, and Co. are writing to their correspondents to ship a steamer " on " consignment.” He anticipates that the home firm may not, without some probable chance of profitably disposing of it on arrival, be inclined to take the risk, and therefore, if it is what it is represented to be, the Government propose to place a, sum on the Estimates sufficient to pay for the engine should there he no private purchaser. Now there are one or two little things that require notice in the conduct of our contemporary in dealing with the matter. If his correspondent, “ Brutus,” be a person not connected with the staff of the Daily Times, and if it be true, as asserted, that he lias ascertained "Thomson’s " road steamer was ordered with the " express sanction of the Executive of " the day ” —a fact which, in view of the merely conditionally implied guarantee to Messrs Potter, Wilson, and Co., we did not think it necessary to enquire into—the Daily Times insults its own correspondent by doubting his assertion that the Executive did sanction the course taken by bis Honor. We know no reason why the editorial staff of the Daily Times should require such minute information on the doings of the Executive, in order to verify the .assertions of correspondents quite as likely to be well informed as the editor himself. judging by the purpose to which fie puts his information, there is no chance of its being used to give the public a full knowledge of the truth. But what becomes of the assertion that his Honor had ordered the steamer? All that can be affirmed is, that in anticipation of a useful invention being introduced into the Province, on condition that a private firm will import one, iff it is what it is represented, to he, should there he no private purchaser, the Government will not allow that firm to be a loser. Now whether with or without the advice of his Executive, the vast importance of the invention to the progress of the Province will, in the eyes of tho public, justify every line of

his Honor’s letter. Mr Auld, the Homo Agent, .■was not deceived by it, but laid it before Messrs Potter, Wilson, and Co., who apparently wore not sufficiently confident that the steamer was what it was represented to be, to take the risk. The inventor himself had no such fear; but though_ willing to take it, had no necessity to do so, as ho had plenty of work without involving the no little difficulty of dealing with ever changing Executives. We can honor those who differ from us in opinion, and meet them in a fair stand-up contest. Public men are marks to be shot at, and ought not to complain so long as they -are fairly and honorably dealt with ; but public opinion will justify us in characterising the course taken by the Daily Timts in this matter as being worthy of the tactics of a Thug.