The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-24

acknowledge before the Legislature OF his
native State the compliment of vote OF
thanks, than in all the bursts of rhetoric
which have electrified the thousands who
have since surrounded his eulogists upon
days of public festivity and rejoicing.
OPPOSITION JOURNALIsM-A CLAIM AND
CONCESSION.
The Union of Thursday contains an
elaborate rigmarole in defence of the last
administration, into which it contrived to
infuse an immoderate quantity OF coarse
ness even for that journal, which it winds
up with the following pregnant sentence;
| .'The people will regard such conduct, on the
part of the Cabinet, as infinitely dishonorabe
| than the conduct of its organ which has not those
inpraue obligations resting upon it to observe truth
and decency the eminent public stations Of the Cab
met impose upon its members and the administration.
1t is the curse of American journalism
that there are members of the profession
who hold such sentiments as are here
avowed by the Union. 1t is unfortunate
for the press that public writer's connected
with it should imagine any station, how
ever exalted, imposed upon its occupants
more comparative obligation to observe
truth and decency." We disclaim all
sympathy with that Interpretation of the
relations between the press and the peo-
pie which would confer upon journalism
an impunity in this regard which is with
held from any other vocation. If the
Union recognises in the "eminent public
stations of the Cabinet ministers moral
responsibility to the country greater than
that which the press owes, we do not
For good or for evil the press is as power
full an agency as ministerial influences,
and its obligations should be proportioned
to its strength. tits areinement in moral
casuistry, to which we do not subscribe,
which measures obligations to observe truth
and decency by official distinction; and we
also reject that valuation of journalism
which would exact from any other profess
sion more scrupulous regard for those
virtues, even upon the principle of proper
ton laid down by the Union.
In the same article we find the annexed
passage:
"The Opposition has some license; but the Ad-
| mnstration, when it speaks through It's confden-
tial friends in Congress, through its authorized
press, should have regard TO decency, honor,
and truth
"The Opposition has some license"
| What license does the Union claim 1t
explains its meaning full well when it adds,
in the same sentence, and with discrim-
mating 's6ut," ssthe Administration, when
it speaks through its confidential friends
in Congress, or through its authorized
press, should have some regard to de
cency, honor, and truth" The simple
purport of this language is-the Admins
tration is bound to have some regard for
decency, honor, and truth, but the Oppo-
sition is not. 1t is claim for the Oppo-
sihon to exemption from these obligations
1t will not be denied that the Union has
made the most Of its privilege; il has not
forfeited its license for want OF use. In
the article from which we take the above
extracts, ii illustrates Its pretensIons by
the most lavish exercise of its right. II
displays heroic zeal in defence of its
immunity, by paying no regard whatever
TO decency, honor, or truth.
The Administration and It's friends ac-
knowledge and act upon the obligations OF
decency, honor, and truth. So should
all men, of all professions-and herein the
difference between the Union and us.
We cannot but deplore that any press
should entertain opinions 50 discreditable
to the profession and hurtful to its just in
Auence, as those avowed by the "sole or
gam" yet il was an act of commendable
temerity in the Union to acknowledge
them. Its TRADES against the Cabinet;
its denunciations Of eminent Wing states
men; It's ibels upon its cotemporaries; its
sneers at the President, are but the eli
cense of Opposition" 1t claims, by rea-
son Of its being of the opposition-the
"sole organ of the Opposition here in
Westinghouse say what it pleases,
without regard to decency, honor, or truth
the obligation to observe which il aban.
dons TO the sentiment public stations Of
+ the Cabinet" to "the confidential friends
+ and the "authorized press of the Ad.
T ministration.