He Returns to the Attack.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 365, 17 October 1889, Page 2

He Returns to the Attack.

[to the editor.]

Sta, —I freely admit you had the advantage over me in your last issue, but I do not think the heading “ Moralising eatu Truth *' was altogether justifiable; on your own admission it was not. Certainly I was totally wrong in my charge against the Standard, and, like tbe snail, I draw in my horns on that point, Indeed I did not believe there was a nssrs. paper sufficiently independent to publish the letter. On the question ginerally your own arguments prove my case. You cay that the Pres, does not suckle to the racing clubs, that racing is to the Press a heavy expenee for which there is no adequate return, and that it horseracing causes a commercial depreseion the newepaper is affected accordingly. Then, I ask, if there is no adequate return, why do the newspapers sacrifioe the taste of the better class of readers to gratify # few turfy Indi* viduals? Horse raeing cannot do otherwise than create a commercial depression: than why do the newspapers who are affected by it, use their powers to perpetuate and inoressa tbe evil ? You say you are not going to offer a defence of racing, from which I think I am fair in presuming you have none to offer. But you say It ia a luxury which, U it can ba afforded, no one can or ought to suppress. How many of the people that go to racing can afford to do ao ? Just look at some of our business man who feel their oircumstanoM do not warrant them in hiring a hone to go for a ride; see them looking on In admiration (I) at acme of their debtors gallqping ok driving out in tip-top style, A repent hank* rupt could always manage to bo then or at the Darby, or some pl«0i nearly as oslobrated, and appear too in tbe beat style, and make investments like the rut of than, bnt hii creditors had to content themaelvco «lfl| being more modeet. Uofortunately it is ncM the mere shunning of the thing that wIH he)p tn eradicate an pvil. Thon ought to M a vigorous trhsads ttejnat ft. perhaps'i® you say, some of than persons who aZfi duped by spielers deserve the loosen, bqj there are many whan rsllanoa In the honesty of their fellow men makes them incapable of suspecting tha shabby trickery to which they may be aubjeoted, and then la no justification whatever tor Koundrrilism. You admit then is too much racing in Gieborne, and I tbinl; It is time then was some effort made to check ft. >Jf thg mapy upon knd womgn Of high moral character who eopport if were bqt tq thirik of the snano that leas self reliant Individuals (aft fqfq 'fltrQtM following their example, those moral ntiq and women might abstain from patronising tha thing. If they will not think, it la oar duty to call these little matters to theft attention. As to waanlng honut mon from the turf, ia then not such a thing aa judging people by their eompaajone ?—) am. au. r Deatitav, ' Again we must remind “ Demnoy ” that hie statements 3rd not aqouraft, lj h« wer> not so rs»h |n ruat)lng intq prlqt fte would hgv# (li«overc4 that Ws did nqt say waa no adequate was tbat tn a direct form then is no adequate nturn, which may be taken fo mean that from tbq racing clubs ths newspapers derive less bane, fit than the expenee they an put to, bnt it a certain proportion of naden requin a oertain Claes Qt newt, provided no good taste is offended, the dewiptpat is bound to supply itt We agree with our eorrupondent tbat many journals do detqta for toq tqpob toaqs (fl racing matters, bqt that Is pot our ba|lheoi qqfi we further ague that ton much racing ty prejudicial is the iattreiH e! 5 Bat opinjqna wilt differ as to what ia too much racing. If " Decency " allowed hie real name to bo published it might give a tone ot urnestness to his letters.—Ed ]