New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-06
MR. BROONdLL ON THE PRESS.


Mr. BROOMALL ON THE PRESS
Mr. Lowell tells us that Good sends country
"lawyers and other wise fellows to drive the
worlds team when it gets in n slough" One
OF these country lawyers represents the Chester
district in Pennsylvania, and has lately dis
tinguished himself by what newspaper re-
porter calls "a sweeping denunciation OF cor
respondents in general" saying "he believed
{" they manufactured such statements for the
"purpose of blackmailng and, for his part,
"he would MT believe any correspondent IN
Washington under oath. He thought that
g any correspondent who remained IN WASH
"ington for even two weeks got thor
"oughly corrupted and unworthy OF
90 credit The author of this statement Is
the Hon. John NJ. Broomall, Of Pennsylvania.
After reply had been made to Mr.. Broomall
by Mr.. Getz, of Reading, he still further said,
"that he didn't believe in the virtue of any
"of the correspondents of this wicked capital,
"and while he did not object to them pitching
Unto himself as fiercey as they might desire, he
did hope they would never attempt to praise
"him TO obtain their praises would give the
public ground to suspect his own honesty"
We do not presume that the human virtues
are Ronopolized by Washington correspondents
any more than by the members of any other
profession. We have seen many things In the
conduct of some of these gentlemen to deplore.
Occasionally we have felt that the profession
was degraded by their conduct. If the
story told of Mr.. Painter is true, we think nc
deserves the severest censure; but men have
done the Press good service in Washington.
n md Dppu there.
who have as much ability, as much honesty,
aud rs many claims TO public esteem, as the
Hon. John NJ. Broomall A bad correspondent
surely does harm. a lie will travel with
sevcn-leagued boots, but we have yet to hear
of its ever seriously hurting anybody. In no pro-
fesSion is the distinction between bad men and
good men 50 promptly and severely drawn as in
the Press. There are some black sheep, but
everybody knows who they are. They have no
character. They represent no great news
paper. They have the confidence of no popu-
lar constituency, and they no more represent
correspondents of the Press than the shystcrs'
around the Tombs do the New York Bar.
The Washington correspondent occupies n
position of great power Mr.. Colfax, in his speech
at their dinner the other evening, solennly
warned them, we are told, of their response
bility, and advised them TO exercise it pru-
IDENTITY. lie reminded them that they had in
their hands the making and the unmaking of
the reputation of great men," We have gen.
orally found that the correspondents who are
most unpopular with Congressman are the men
! who do not assist in making" these reputa-
tons" reporter. for instance, who will tell
the constituents of Mr.. Breomall every other
morning that he made a thrilling and mastery
speech that the stcnOgraphers were dissolved
in tears as they took down his pathetic SEN
fences, will be hOnOred by him, and by those
of his class as an ornament to his profession.
1t is very hard TO resist these temptations 1t
il not in human nature TO say "NOp when grave
Congressman, representing mighty constituent
cies, comes into the office of a CORE
spondent and begs him to say four
lines to his people, recording his elo-
quence and virtue. The request makes very
much the impression upon these writing gen.
tlemen that beggar does, who stands with
his hat at the door aud asks for sixpences
The beggar, however, shows more courtesy
He at least, will say, May the Lord save
"you !" or. May Heaven prosper you !" or,
May you have peace in the land many days "
But the Congressman rarely shows such graft
tude. He is insensibe to all these praises.
His character is above criticism" He fears
if be is complimented by the Press that his
"honesty will be suspected With him "hon-
"esty " is shining and burning trait. 1t is
rs dear to him as Religion was to the Phari-
sees. AS Mr.. Broomall expresses it, he hopes
" they will never attempt to praise him."
We are charitable enough to believe that
this distinguished member was probably
nerved to his sudden attack upon largo mum.
Der of gentlemen by the fact that he retires
from Congress upon the 4th of March, and that
he now now speaks from a quick temper or an
excited Imagination. For ourselves, we lament
his retirement into private life. 1t is not Otter
that we have man in public station whose
honesty is beyond all praise, and who goes to
his daily duties praying that he may be soundly
abused before night. This self-abnegation is
so beautiful that it makes us sad to see it
fading into oblivion. We trust the peO-
pie of Chester will send Mr. Broomall to Con-
gress again, if for nothing else, to remain there
during the balance of his life as the Saint
Simeon Stylites of modern representatives
"a sign betwixt the meadow and the cloud,
Patient on this tall pillar have borne
RAIN wind FROST heat, hail. damp, and sleet and
All Let mo not DO fooled! sweet Saints! trust
That AIN whole and clean and meet for Heaven"
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