North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-05-06


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Errors or The Press.
During the excitement attendant upon 9
sharp canvass, it is not an uncommon thing
for party papers to get cut Of line in their
statements.-While the election is pending
ond votes can be changed by encouraging
reports of prospects, it is too common a
practice to indulge in the most ridiculous
prophecy, and appeals are made to pre-.
tended facts ~ basis for the predictions,
when the facts ore ''all in your-eye."
Bad as this practice is, and much as it has
affected the general reputation Of the
press, it is usually pardoned in circles
where the statements are known to be
false, on the ground that "all is fair in
war;"
We do not quito subscribe to this senti-
ment, but while insisting that an Editor
should regard the reputation of his paper
a. carefully as he would his own charac-
tor, and that the one should be as we'll es-
tablished and reliable as the other, VIC do
not understand his duty as publisher
requires an indiscriminate insertion Of
whatever may be advanced as truth by an
opponent. That mode of getting up a
character for fairness is one that we have
no great taste for, and so long as our judg-
raent remains, wc propose to investigate
reports with what skill we can. before VIC
publish them, let them come from what
quarter they may. In party warfare an
exchange may make statemest that is
not as clear as yen would wish it, but its
publication will DO advantageous in
the fight, you do not require SO great
testimony to convince you of its truth, as
you would if the statement were having an
injurious effect upon those principles which
you esteem essential to the well-being Of
society and the permanence of your gov
srnlnent.
We know that weighing evidence by
your interest is subject to the criticism of
,hs moralist, tut we are dealing with hu-
man nature as it is, and the recognition of
mans weakness in this respect is go uni
versal, that no Court will permit a citizen,
however irreproachable his charaster, to
occupy the jury box on case where his
interests or his feelings are involved.
That admirable expression Of the great
Delineator "The Wish is father to the
Thought is as true of the human nature OF
to-day, as it was in the time Of Shakespeare.
4 man inclines to the belief of that which
he wishes were true, and it takes less teSti-
mony to satisfy him of the correctness OF
favorable news than it does to convince
him of that which produces unpleasant
ness. This arises from the hopeful nature
Of man, and it cannot be got out of him,
until death or despair (Which is a living
death) takes possession Of him. Hence,
when an Editor sees the triumph Of his
PARTY as an event which is morally certain
10 come round, or when his vision is closed
TO the more glazing faults of II political
friend, and excessively awake to the tri-
ding errors of an opponent, he is not al
ways chargeable with falsehood, or vindic,
tiveness: he only follows the rule that
runs through all social, moral. and religi.
Gus life.
To some extent then, Sail is fair in
war;" But when the battle has transpired
and the victory is lost and won, there can
I've no motive for longer indulgence in that
amiable and natural weakness which ex
treme desire for success and earnest con.
yiction of being right in principle may
have prompted. To state things as facts
when the absolute reality may have been
so enveloped in smoke as to be difficult o.
discovery and where vguess in your favor
may have been quite as likely to prove
true, and much more agreeable, than q
guess on the other side, is pardonable but
when the smoke clears up, and all these
matters Of dispute become demonstrate
truths-when the facts for which all have
been seeking, stand out plain and palpablc
supported by the incontestable testimony
Of Arithmetical exactness, the man who
would mis-state or distort them, loses the
,eneft of charity-he ceases to be merely
bad guesscr, or an enthusiastic partizan
lie would be entitled to the appellation O
.nare, if his dishonesty We're not so trans
searent and easily exploded by the com.
honest observer. The only name left 70,
him is Ninny!
The Rev. Mr.. Ryle, of England, com
IL IL II.