The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1878.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 81, 25 September 1878, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1878.

We see from our Wellington exchanges it is rumored that the ' Timaru Herald' is again threatened with an action for libel. We do not wonder at this. That organ of slander and scurrility, like Ishmael of old, " its hand is against every man, and every man's hand is against it," from the highest to the lowest. Members of the Legislative Council, members of the General Assembly, members of County Councils, Road Boards, all come in for a share of its abuse. It is not to be wondered at then if the Temuka Leader comes in now and then for a share. The ' Herald ' reminds us of a certain clergy man who, when he began his duties in his parish, remaiked that he was not sure the people would, stand being told the whole "truth. The ' Herald ' cannot stand the whole truth ; hence its sneers at those journals who oppose it. The tone of language adopted by that eccentric journal has been for the last few years such that no respectable journal 'would stoop to imitate. It is not to be wondered at therefore, that it stinks in the nostrils of everyone, from the highest Council in the country down to the lowest street scavenger. We admire a candid, honest, manly criticism. We will go further and say that we think no journal docs its duty to its constituents which is not ready to expose every abuse, whether that abuse originates with friend or foe, and doubtless it is the duty of every public journalist to endeavor to set right what it is sure is wrong. But we do not see it to be the duty of a public journalist to pry into a man's private character and expose his nakedness to the world, simply because lie does not see as other men see. The fop or the dandy may air his vanity before the world, and no one will seek to disturb him. He may even boast of his pure pedigree, and no one will say, What doest thou ? It pleases him and hurts not others. But it is different when a man's character for honesty or uprightness is called in question. We think public journalists cannot be too careful in tampering with a man's private character. The l Herald ' is notoriously bitter against all who do not agree with it. Pew journals have escaped the virulence of its poison. How then shall the Temuka Leader expect to escape ?