The Evening Telegraph

WAR IN THE WEST.
The Great Cincinnati Newspaper Duel-The Editor of the "Commercial" Posted as a "Low-Toned Coward," Etc.

The great newspaper duel-which is to be-in Cincinnati excites much comment. It originated in the following article in the Enquirer, of which McLean is editor:-

M'LEAN POSTS HALSTEAD.

But while the public is a witness to these envenomed personal attacks, it is naturally ignorant of the reason of them. Let ours be the simple task to tell the cause. We could have secured the silence of Mr. Halstead, and he knows it; but we refused to pay the price asked. Hence his malignant personal defamation.

Now, we simply propose to bring all this matter to a head. Silence on our part has produced license on his part. We-and we take it, the public-are tired of it. Neither we nor Mr. Halstead have any right to make the people parties to what is evidently on his part a personal hate of one of the proprietors of this paper, who, we will here say, is unconscious of ever having done him harm by word, deed or thought. And with a view to bringing the matter to an abrupt conclusion, we now post Mr. Murat Halstead as a low-toned, vulgar liar, blackguard and coward. Mr. Halstead knows the name of the writer of this article, and where and when to find him.

M'LEAN TELLS HALSTEAD HE POSTS HIM.

Mr. Washington McLean, the author of the article in yesterday's Enquirer denouncing Mr. Halstead, understanding at a late hour last evening, from reliable authority, that he (Mr. Halstead) intended in this morning's issue of the Commercial to affect ignorance of the real author of the paragraph in the Enquirer, caused to be delivered to Mr. Halstead last night the subjoined note, which deprives him of all excuse in the premises:-

"Cincinnati, April 28, 1870.-Murat Halstead, Editor of the Cincinnati Commercial-I understand from reliable authority that you intend in your to-morrow's paper giving the impression that you are ignorant of the name of the writer of the article in to-day's Enquirer, denouncing you as a 'low-toned, vulgar liar, blackguard, and coward.

"I am the author, and hold myself responsible for the same. In haste,

WASHINGTON MCLEAN."

HALSTEAD REPLIES TO M'LEAN.

I understand Mr. Washington McLean, by his production of printed matter under the provocation he professes he has had, to express his preference for personal warfare through the press, and I do not feel that it is my part to divert the present controversy. Therefore, I notice here the one sentence in Mr. McLean's article in the Enquirer that I am prepared to pronounce bold.

It is this:-

"We could have secured the silence of Mr. Halstead, and he knows it; but we refused to pay the price he asked."

There is nothing within my knowledge that could have suggested this insinuation, and I challenge the production of particulars. I have never asked or received, directly or indirectly, a price for silence or for utterance, and I never bought or sought, in personal affairs, any one to speak or to be still for my sake. I have no interest, actual or contingent, and never had any, in stocks, or bonds, or public contracts, or in speculative schemes of any name and nature.

I enjoy the absolute independence that this disinterestedness gives me in journalism, and I am proud of it; and there is no influence that can affect my purpose to speak with freedom of those who are plotting forever in public affairs for their private advantage.

Mr. McLean is the most conspicuous of that class in this city, and I disbelieve in his capacity to say or do anything that will give him, in his schemes that incessantly invade the interests of the people, immunity from the criticisms that I may see proper to make in the columns of the Commercial.

M. HALSTEAD.

The telegraph sends word that the challenge to mortal combat has passed, but there is great difficulty in finding seconds. It is rumored that the weapons will be howitzers, and the fight at a distance of a mile. Unless some one is struck in four hours the duel will be discontinued.