The Conservative (Lovecraft)/October 1915/Editorial
Editorial
Weak and pliant indeed is he who maketh no enemies. Ever since The Conservative commenced his series of frank criticisms and unvarnished comments, his heels have been annoyed by the vindictive snappings of a dozen or more vituperative little curs whose bristles he seems to have brushed the wrong way as he passed by them. Not all of these have yet expressed themselves in print, but from the gifted Charles D. Isaacson down to the wretched, sneaking mongrel "Bab Bell", they have each taken their "little fling" at the newcomer. Now the Conservative has no wish to trample the under dog, nor even to stifle the feeble yelps that assail this paper; wherefore he extends herewith an invitation for every hostile amateur journalist, human, Nationalite, or "Bab Bell", to submit for publication herein any and all sneers, attacks, or insults which he may have prepared against the Conservative. Reasonable brevity will insure publication without deletion. The Conservative believes that no one possesses the right to attack him unless willing to have that attack printed with original spelling, style, and grammar, in these pages, directly beside the articles whose tone he is denouncing. The public may then be able intelligently to compare the reasoning and attainments of the Conservative and his critics. It is to be hoped that those critical canines and insulting insects will by next issue have furnished the Conservative with sufficient venom to start a new column, to be entitled "From the Enemy's Camp".
It scarcely need be remarked that the above has no reference to those persons of intelligence and good manners who conscientiously disagree with the Conservative in gentlemanly fashion. These critics and dissenters are but to be praised for their sturdy independence of thought, and their admirable restraint of expression. For them is reserved the friendly answer, and, when possible, the apologetic recantation. It may be noticed that in this issue the Conservative has conceded practically all points to Mr. Kleiner in the discussion concerning allowable rhymes.