O TEMPORA! O MORES!

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 822, 8 June 1871, Page 2

O TEMPORA! O MORES!

" Where tbe proprietorship of a newspaper gets into unscrupulous hands and the Press is prostituted to serve personal animosities." The foregoin" sentence is from the " Charleston Herald" of June 7th, aud forms portiou of a leading article devoted to abuse of this journal and of Mr O'Conor. The matter which has called forth our contemporary's virulence is the repeal of the Executive Act of 1870, and the consequent displacement from office of the member for Charleston. It appears that anyone who ventures to differ from the " Herald " must at once submit to be branded as contemptible aud infamous. Having reproved the member for Westport for his opposition to their protege, the writer proceeds with unwarrantable assumption to call in question the correctness of our rfeports of the proceedings in the Council. If the " Herald" claims to be more correctly informed than we no doubt they are at liberty- to furnish their version. "We have entire faith in our reporter, and the members of Council have themselves testified to the fulness and correctness of reports that have appeared in our columns upon matters of West Coast interest. We are fully aware that Mr O'Conor does not seek popularity with the Nelson press, notably with the paper edited by Mr Luckie, a member of the Council; and it is from the latter source, or from the clique to which it belongs, that our contemporary draws its inspirations. After assailing Mr O'Conor in a verv unscrupulous manner, in a manner indicative of the strongest personal animus, the "Herald" proceeds to condemn beforehand his action in the House of ."Representatives. The " Herald " says, " Unfortunately, it happens that Mr O'Conor has been elected to a seat in the General Assembly." This remains to be proved. We take it that the " Herald" would better serve the public interest by endeavouring to

strengthen tho hands of a member to whom the interests of the district have been confided, than by attempting to heap upon him unmerited and idle abuse. The inference to be deduced from the article referred to Is, that in the opinion of the " Herald," it alone is the authentic organ of the district, and the Times a very nefarious journal, that Mr O'Conor is the very impersonation of all that is atrocious —a monster, in fact, who delights in the martyrdom of the poor patient, and much-enduring the Honourable George Donne For our part, we we are willing to accept tho cordial support extended to this journal throughout the district aa indicating appreciation and approval of our efforts to advance the public interests, we rest satisfied that vulgar abuse and unsupported assertion can ultimately injure only those who have recourse to such miserable weapons. As to Mr O'Conor, we hope that he will continue a career marked by outspoken eaudour and devotion to his trust, however much his conduct may have been distorted by a blind envy and personal rancour which, having been driven from Westport, now seeks a resting place in Charleston, Coelum, non animum, mutant, qui trans mare currunt. Wo leave the " Charleston Herald" a prey to that most corroding af passions which they cannot even clumsily conceal; it is an unenviable state, but we will not be so unjust to the d ; strict as to imagine that the sentiments enunciated by them find fither credence or approval.