The Evansville Daily Journal

[Communicated.]
Hardin to N. Willard.
To the Editors of the Journal:—By your facetious articles in Thursday's Journal, you seem vastly amused and puzzled at the hostility exhibited toward me by Mr. Willard, in the last issue of his Weekly Enquirer.—It is equally amusing to me; but perhaps I can more easily account for the elaborate and vindictive attack. "It is wholly and solely personal, and gives me no concern whatever, other than to make you this explanation, in return for the gentlemanly courtesy you not unfrequently extend to me."
The "head and front of my offending" was my polite but firm refusal to become surety for Mr. W. in the payment of a pretty large sum of money. Other like little financial differences ensued between us, but as Mr. Willard is now at the bottom of the Wheel of Fortune it would be unkind for me to dwell upon them. The last imaginary cause for complaint was one of omission upon my part. A few days before the discontinuance of his Daily, Mr. W. stated to a gentleman in my presence, partly directing the conversation to me, that the last Daily Enquirer would be issued on the Sunday following, but that he would continue the Weekly paper, and make it in politics lay loose around to suit himself; that he would support such candidates for office as would shell out. This hint was broad, well defined and well understood; but I omitted to "shell out." He did not levy any black mail on me. In this connection, he stated that Judge Law would principally owe his election to the service of the Enquirer; that the Judge could well afford to pay $400, &c., &c. This conversation was not regarded as confidential. It took place on the sidewalk in front of Theodore's Exchange was only street talk.
Mr. Willard says in his comments upon the candidates for District Attorney, that I am "socially, a very clever gentleman." I thank him for that, and also for the other expression, that he "personally likes me very much." I only wish I could return him the same compliments. Perhaps I can hereafter; I shall wait and see. In the mean time, I shall give him the benefit of my prayers. May the God of the sore-headed, the depressed, and the disappointed draw benignly near unto him, and infuse a few lessons of wisdom into the tenantless chambers of his mind; and inflate his soul with an ambition more altitudinous and sublime than Whisky! Until then, I solemnly protest against his competency to pass judgment upon my legal acquirements."
Trusting this brief explanation will shed a little glimmering of light in the right direction, I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully yours,
G. W. H.