38 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
by the detraction of others is sure in the end to fail, and 
ultimately to recoil on those who attempt it. On that 
account it is we have withheld some communications which 
we thought were not only uncalled for, but calculated to 
engender feelings that ought not to exist between the mem¬ 
bers of a profession. The motives imputed do not sometimes 
exist; they are merely conjectured, and when given expression 
to often provoke the bitter retort. And what is the good to 
be derived from this ? A few bad spirits may, perhaps, exult 
in an awakened controversy, it being in consonance with 
their feelings ; but the many will deplore it. It is, how¬ 
ever, c< ill striving to straighten the legs of grasshoppers.” 
Such persons glory in their crooked ways, and are onty happy 
when creating discord. These we would leave, as we have 
no feelings in common with them. 
We know that in thus acting we give offence to the 
accusing party; he likes not to have the ban put upon his 
writings, which he thinks he has all right to have publicity 
given to. Herein lies one of the difficulties of an editor— 
judiciously to withhold from insertion that which is calcu¬ 
lated to be productive of evil rather than good. Want of 
union is division, and where this is there is no strength in 
the body. Discord too often neutralizes all efforts made 
for advancement, and a whole community frequently suffers 
through the inconsiderate conduct of a few of its members. 
We have always considered ourselves caterers for one 
section of the professional public, and our desire has been to 
obtain for our pages such matter as shall contribute to its 
mental sustenance and healthful condition. We have declared 
ourselves to be neither iconoclasts nor revolutionists; rather 
would we preserve the old landmarks than destroy them; 
nevertheless, we hold ourselves free to act for the general 
good. There is an oppression which driveth a wise man 
mad.” This we cannot tamely submit to, believing that 
although there may be errors in judgment, we are never¬ 
theless actuated by right motives. “ Onwards 5 ’ is still our 
motto. It is true we have advanced, but we are not satisfied 
with the whereunto we have attained; it reaches not so 
