Kitamura protested, saying "(Aizan) tried to expand the scope of purpose that needed to be destroyed with a hammer named 'historical discussion' and repeatedly tried to attack the realm of literature."
それに対し、北村が「〔愛山は〕「史論」と名くる鉄槌を以て撃砕すべき目的を拡めて、頻りに純文学の領地を襲わんとす」と反発した。