That venomous invective pierced
the hardest panoply. For the first time in American journalism, the
world saw the full force of ridicule; and tasted a bitterness of
invective unknown since the days of Swift.
Out of these personal attacks grew numerous duels. The butts of the
editor's ridicule sent him defiances, and he was engaged in several
affairs, which, however, resulted in nothing, or nearly nothing, as I
believe he was wounded only once. They did not induce him to change his
course. He seemed to have marked out his career in cold blood, and was
plainly resolved to adhere to his programme--to write himself into
power. In this he fully succeeded. By dint of slashing and flaying, he
attracted the attention of all. Then his vigorous and masculine
intellect riveted the spell. Hated, feared, admired, publicly
stigmatized as one who "ruled Virginia with a rod of iron," he had
reached his aim; and soon the material results of success came. The
director of that great political engine, the Richmond _Examiner_, found
no difficulty in securing the position which he desired; and he
received the appointment of minister to Sardinia, which he accepted,
selling his newspaper, but reserving the right to resume editorial
control of it on his return.
His ambition was thus gratified--for the moment at least.
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