Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-10-26
On Saturday Afternoon next, at 2 O'Clock.
q cotemnorary sa5s !:

A contemporary says:
UIn publication now before us, issued
in 1900, We find Washington charged with
having sembezzHed the public money with
being knowingly perjured,' being :hypo-
critic and with having sacrificed the rights
Of his country while the incumbent
President was assailed for having compile
ted the scene of ignomily which WASH
ingtOn began"
To us, at this time, 1t is almost incredf-
BILE that such charges could have been
brought against George Washington. As
We compare the political papers aud
speeches of that day with those of the
present, we ind cause for congratulation
and encouragement The tone of most OF
the writers and speakers during the pres
emit canvass, has been courteous and dig
nffed. 1t is not many years since any
man who accepted nomination for 81
prominent Office, thereby imperilied the
reputation of his private character His
own personal history and that of his kin
tired and friends were ransacked in search
of facts or rumors which could be used
fairly or unfairly against him. he was
assailed with 81 violence which might
properly be called malignant. In some
parts of the country this custom is still
observed. But far more generally than
ever before are political articles and
speeches now devoid OF offensive person
aIities. Even the photographic caricatures
which have been published are of a less
gross and coarse type than usual. Some
of them evince n little more refined as
well as brighter wit than is commonly
employed in that department of the ':po-
litiSal arts
mus been observed in
the manner of conducting political discus
sions is due to the character of the caudi-
dates and to the want of great excitement.
Ever since the Democratic rupture, it has
seemed SO probable that Lindoln would be
elected, his opponents have lacked the
usual stimulus to attack him, and the Re-
publicans have had few provocations to
indulge in personalities. These causes
have been named. We are inclined to
think that large part of the credit for
che change, in which high-minded men of
all parties must rejoice. is due to the press
While some papers of wide circulation
and large influence still c9ntinne TO make
slanderous style of other days, by far the
larger number Of reputable journals in the
middle and eastern States as carefully ex-
clude from their columns personal abuse
Of their political foes as they do ISLANDERS
upon their political friends. They do this,
although in tue heat aud excitement of
campaign they are often urgently pressed
by politicians to trausgress this wholesome
rule. At times it has doubtless required
no little determination and courage on
the part of many editors to withstand
the appeals which were made to them
to fill their papers with blackguardism
rather than with respectful argument or
with good-natured satire. But they have
resisted, and the consequence is that the
standard of prOpriety in political discus
sions has been greatly elevated.
We will not undertake to decide wheth-
er this improvement in newspapers has
not been partly the effect as well as a
cause of a general elevation of public SEN
timent. But it certainly has been cause.
The press has advanced in the right di-
rectiOu quite as rapidly as the readers. 1t
is, however, ground for general satisfac-
ton, that by common consent, the old and
unfortunate custom of indulging extern
sively in personalities has been "houored
more in the breach than in the Observ-
ance" during the past contest. We would
gladly hope that it will never again come
fully into vogue. We do not fiatter our
selves that it will yet be abandoned. But
we hail with Joy any indications that the
tendency of the age is to encourage de-
cency and courtesy rather than abuse and
Calumnyr in the treatment of political OPP
ponents.
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