"_Confidential._
"NEW LEBANON, _Aug. 1871_.
"MY DEAR CASSIDY,--I think you had better note the tone of the 30 or 40
extracts which the _Times_ daily publishes from journals of all parts
of the United States--nearly all administration, but a few Democratic.
It indicates the _mode_ of using the exposures of the _Times_ which are
employed throughout the country.
"Two ideas are sufficiently apparent now:
"1. That the evils and abuses in the local government of the city of
New York are general characteristics of the Democratic party, and would
occur in the Federal government if that party should come into power at
Washington.
"This argument, fallacious though it be, is likely to satisfy the
Republican mind and to animate it to effectiveness; and to confuse
and embarrass the Democratic mind, and render it ineffective, if not
irresolute. The immense preponderance of the Republicans in journalism,
and the situation of this local cancer, directly under the focus of
that journalism, which makes it more conspicuous to the eye of the
country than a hundred such would be if existing in remote or obscure
parts--the peculiar and remarkable clearness and certainty of the
proofs compared with the inferential and argumentative nature of the
evidence in such cases usually, are circumstances which go far to
enable the Republicans to succeed in propagating this idea. We are out.
Our case requires not merely firmness in holding our position by our
veterans, but affirmative, aggressive action, resulting in accessions
from the hostile or neutral, captures from the enemy. If the higher
_morale_--the better weapons, the stronger ammunition--are not _with_
us, but _against_ us, how are we to be capable of the kind of warfare
necessary to the situation?
"2. The second idea is that the leading Democratic journals _defend_
the wrongs alleged, thus impliedly adopting them or admitting a
responsibility for them, which does not allow of disavowal and
condemnation.
"A mode of discussion which countenances such a construction is not
only wrong but foolish, both in respect to the party and the journal.
All that can be conceded to the accused is the benefit of whatever
doubts may exist as to their guilt. It will not do to set off similar
wrongs alleged against the other party, for that, if frequently
repeated, will gradually foster in the public mind the conclusion
that we admit these wrongs to be properly carried to our side of the
account. The idea should be kept _all the while_ before the public mind
that the Democratic party is not responsible for these wrongs; that it
will be foremost in punishing the authors and foremost in adopting all
measures necessary to prevent their recurrence. The _first_ impression
is important, and persistent repetitions of that impression are
necessary to affect the public mind. The point of the article which was
commended by Mr. Kernan, Gov. Beach, and myself needs to be presented
again and again--perhaps with even more distinctness--until it attracts
more public attention than it seems to have done. This is especially
necessary in view of the articles in the _World_."