138. Piatt, Donn. Autograph Letter Signed to Julius Chambers. 2 1/2 pages. 8vo, single sided; light wear, toned, creased at folds.

East Liberty, OH, August 27, 1890 [75/100]

Mr. Julius Chambers,My dear Chambers,I was much disgruntled to learn from that tri-weekly scintillating [sic] putrescent cow-dung, called the Republican, that you had left this locality. That you should do so, without giving me an opportunity to return some of the kindness shown me at New York, hurt my feelings. Go, to, and the man says ?n the play, but don't go that way.There is another matter that worries me. I have a friend at New York one Robert J Belford, who differs in that respect, and many others, from his late firm of Belford Clark and Co - the Chicago end of the late firm being made up of ruffians and enemies of mine. this good fellow lately among the wicked is set upon by your great journal as a bad man open to the charge of publishing a moral circular about a lascivious [sic] book that is not lascivious [sic]. Now looking over the vast stream of obscene literature, to pick out one solitary offender, and that a friend of ours, strikes me as unjust, especially as that friend is doing good work in a cause the World is battling for.I have written Cockerill, making my appeal and protest as I write you in a great concern such as the World one man cannot see to every thing and I want to beg all my friends on the staff to help me. By the bye, will you please give me Merrill's address. Is he at New York or in Europe?Hoping you are well, I am,Yours sincerelyPiatt was a journalist from Ohio. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was commissioned captain of the 13th Ohio Infantry eventually becoming lieutenant-colonel, he then acted as chief of staff to Gen. Robert C. Schenck. After the war he became co-editor and founder of Capital. He wrote an editorial in which he denounced the formation of the Electoral Commission. It was interpreted by President Grant and others as a threat to assassinate Hayes, and Piatt was indicted. The charges were eventually dropped. Piatt's frankness and outspoken honesty made him one of the most formidable and conspicuous editors of his time.