Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-21
ALEXANDRIA,:
TUESDAY MORNING, OCT. 81, 1884.


CORRECT SENTIMENTs.-In the present uneX-
ampled state of public feeling, whilst the ele-
ments of disorder have been suffered to be un-
loosed, and the country is disgraced by scenes
of violence, tumult and riot, it is the imperative
duty of the conductors of the public press TO ex
ert the influence Of that mighty engine OF po-
pular sentiment in aid of the cause OF order,
law and rational liberty. lin this crisis OF our
country's fate-for it is an eventfu period IN It's
history-they should fail in their duty in this re-
spect, heavy will be the responsibility they as
sumo and "grievously must they answer the
Undertakings OF their consciences and the COM
plants of their injured fellow-citzens. In view
of what has occurred recently, We confess we
are indeed grieved and astonished. Inc past
is not to be remedied, however; but the future
may be guarded against the recurrence OF the
like enormities. Let, then, the honest, lntelli-
gent and faithful conductors of the press, VINO
have been appropriately termed the sentineis
upon the ramparts Of Liberty's citadel, resolve
to discountenance the least deviation from the
rules of social order or public harmony; and
let them commence in good earnest the task OF
reforming and correcting the morals OF the peo-
ple, so far as they are concerned in regulating
the affairs Of the country. On this head the
Baltimore Chronicle has some sensible, judi
cious and able remarks,-to bring which before
our readers has been the main design of the few
observations we have made
"The press is admitted, on all hands, to be
nowerful engine for good or for evll-the con-
ductors of it have, therefore. great RESPONSE
bility, that Of measurably giving tone to public
feeling, and, to a certain extent, Influencing
public sentiment. 1t is misfortune that editors
do not always sufficiently estimate the impor-
lance and responsibility of their VOCATION but
descend to the level of gladators fighting TO
elicit the applause of the unthnking and the vi
cious. and securing for themselves the scorn
and contempt of the moral and rejecting. To
administer to the depraved appetite OF the few,
is to destroy the utility Of the public press, and
to convert what should be a blessing into a
curse. The editor who so demeans himself Is
unworthy Of patronage and OF notlce-and with
such we shall carefully abstain from holding
controversy
"An editor who is continually endeavorng to
infiame the public mind, and TO excite to disor-
| der and riot-who drags private individuals De
fore the public TO lacerate their feelings and TO
| injure their reputatons-who assumes 10 treat
| his political opponents as renagades and feons
| is worse than an incendary, and it is the du-
ty, as it is the interest of society, to cast him
| from its BOSOM With such an advocate il is i'm
possible that any party can prosper-for party
attachments must be alienated, when the organ
is unworthy and degraded.
"In all our political controversies it should
never be forgotten, that we are citizens OF the
same country-of the same town: that we have
interests and associations which are to endure
after the contest has been terminated-that dill
| ference OF sentiment does not imply dereliction
| of principe-and, above all, that He who COM
| manded that we should Glove our neighbour as
ourself" is to pass the final judgment upon our
actions. Were these considerations more fire.
quently required to, a better spirit would pre-
vail, and our political disputes be conducted
with that decorum and forbearance, so becom-
| ing the citizens Of free country"