Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-05-27
Vermont Daily Transcript.
WEDNESDAY,, MAY q, 1868.
Uoshi,DtOn Correspondence.

U'UshjuDfOn COIrcspoH,jeIicc.
The newspaper press get dose, now
and again. Our large city contempora-
res send their special correspondents to
the points of greatest interest, ana the
correspondents, knowing that If is their
duty, for doing which they are paid, to
write-writc something-anything that
will be read-makc it n point to find
point of truth if one is handy, and to
hang thereon the cast-oil-clothing OF
their imaginations. Those who read
the correspondence of our city dailics
during the impeachment trial will re-
member the veracious predictions of the
correspondents, contradictcd or modified
from day to day with Il charming dis
regard of consistency. One day the cor
respondent would affirm, on the author
ity of the chest informed" Senators and
others, that conviction was sure, and
the next he would coolly assure the
public that conviction was mot hope
less,n as if the doubtful view of the
case had before been suggested by him.
So ON Monday last we had an eXhibi-
ton of the abundant knowledge of the
real drift of affairs in the special cores
pondencc of the Tribune. He says: 1t
is generally believed Tonight, in well
informed circles, that the Senate will
not take the vote tomorrow ON any of
the remaining articles.n Yet on Tues
day the Senate did vote OH two of the
articles, as the Geographic dispatches
informed our readers. Now, if the
"well-informcd circles" were 80 far
from the truth, what must be the con-
diVon of the correspondent who depends
upon such circles for his prophetic drib-
blings. The above is only specimen
brick from the kiln of that particular
manufacturer. We venture to say that
the speculations and prophecies of such
writers, furnished for basis upon
which the people may form opinions,
are degrading in their influence, and Il
disgrace to journalism. 1t seems to Us
that enough regard for the intelligence
of readers should be shown, to suppose
that if the facts of the day and the hour
were presented, the readers could mus
ter intelligence enough to draw infer
ences that would answer their purposes.
1t also seems to us to be true that it is
the proper mission of the news depart
ment of our papers to furnish fairstate-
ment of that which occurs, or of those
things which are destined in the ordi-
nary course of events and time to occur,
and not to force upon the attention OF
readers the predictions of any person as
worthy of being real. OF course this
rule has limited exceptions, but that il
should be the rule any one who has fol
lowed the prophecies of the city daily
correspondents will admit. 1t is evi
dent to us that the man who has talIel
fair country paper during the impeach
ment trial and since, has learned Il
much worth knowing as he who has
pOred from day to day over the "specia
correspondence" of the city dailics. l
may be true, and often is, that in
multitude of council there is wisdom,
but in the multitude of speculations o
sensation correspondents, there is dis
creditable foolishness.
1t is not amiss for us to say, in closing
without any thought of fault-tinding OF
our own part, that if people generally
would more literally sustain the enter
prise of newspapers in their midst til
result would be highly in favor of them
selves. The press of Vermont canno
now be eXcelled, in enterprise and neat
ness, by any section of equal extent no
including large cities, and it only need
that the patronage Of our people shoul
be directed so as to second the efforts c
those who endeavor to give fair return
constantly, for the patronage bestowed
to place our State press in an advance
rank for enterprise and ability. wit
such patronage our press would be abl
to give all the news and all the report
that the general business and readin
interests of the people ofourStat woul
require, with satisfaction alike to pull
fishers and patrons.
"PENDLETON EsCORT."-It is state