The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-08-06


managers and editors for the places they
ha &c presumed to occupy.
The time has come whcn-"for til,
moncy"-the most disreputable business
may be advertised and the most IN
worthy advcnturer be editorially endo"s
ed in the columns of three-fourths of til,
secular papers in the country. The {
is not vagabond gang of tcnthrato
minstrels--too mean FOR editorial com
mcndation there is not circus-troupc so
mcagre in its appointments, so con-
tcmptble with its spawned horses and
so Ioathsome with its drunken men and
coarse women, that, editorial rhetoric
cannot be bought to exalt it into "mag-
niiccnt cortegc"-"a most delightful en-
tertainmcnt;" there cannot come this
way an imitation of Black Crook, or other
Devils show-so appallingly nude, so
rcvoltngy obscene, but that editorial
sanction shall immediately giorify it as
ga chastc exhibition Spectacular
drama of thrilling interest" Of the
majority of the papers there is hardly a
single issue that is not detiled with dis
gushing personalities, with half suppress
ed blasphcmy, with low .jests and double
entcndre that may amuse the wits of the
bar-room and the bdgnio, but that make
every pure woman blush and every
right-minded man ashamed. If to any
charitable person these remarks should
seem unduly severe, | onl y ask that he
will attentively consider what evidence
of their truth the next dozen papers, he
! may chance tc see, will afford, and am
persuaded that he will object to my state
ments only because they are deficient in
fidelity of analysis and energy of OK
preston.
On last Sunday morning tco, at least,
of the daily papers published in this city
presented to their patrons-along with
religious notices-for Sabbath reading,
crt,acagant MudatiOn Of q certain sale
house" and drinking shop that IN the local
column lad IRON cditoyidl far0r by the
m,uufcent present Of a achole "DEMDoHN
or WHIsKYw 1t threw these gentle
men into state of prcternatural mental
activity while they invoked both prose
and poetry to express their unuttcrablc
gratitude. You may say that my account
of the affair is mere burlcsque, but | as
sure YOU, sir, there was no burlesquc
about their gratitudc-it was sincere and
rapturous. One of our city papers has
repeatedly, within the last few months,
publicly returned thanks to various bar
keepers for so small favor as a single
"LOHle of arhiSky" In this latter case it
is not easy to determine whether SO vio-
lent strain upon courtesy and graft
tude is the evidence of uncommon thirst
or OF extreme ''impecuniosity. -. Z
Not long since we were rcgalcdwith
an editorial leader, strong and eloquent,
in commentator of certain Lottery
located here and run in the name OF
Masonry and bencvolence; for which |
refuse 10 believe that Masonry is res
ponsiblc, and upon which-since it so
antagonzcs the Pauline and Christian
methods of bcnevolcncc, cannot expect
the, blessings of Heaven to rest. | re-
joice to know that there was one paper,
in AtIantas that could not be bought oUcr,
by Efhe management to the advocacy
Of this immoral device for making an easy
living. When, sometime since, it was
charged that the late managing editor OF
the New York Fr 5jlsnoshad sold the in
huencc of his papcr~'f for consideration"
howl of indignation was raised that
startled the sleeping virtues Of "thc
Fourth Estate" from Maine to Oregon.
What is the di0erence9 That the Tri-
bune man could not be bought with
'demiiohns of whisky" nor other such
beggarly brides. Chiefly therefore a
difference Of price.
If such things as arc under considera-
ton were private affairs, mere express
sions of individual tastes and opinions
they might be passed by in commiscra-
ton of their weakness or contempt for
their venality.
But, Mr. Editor, newspaper can in
no wise be made private affair. 1t claims
to reflect and guide public opinion. Its
UILeTdI1CCS CDllCCIil Inc PSoSS VA 0VSiN'J'
the sobriety, virtue and destiny of our
children.
Those of us who do not believe that
the amount of whisky man consumes is
true measure of his civilization nor
conclusive proof of his fitness for the
office of editor, are entitled to demand
that, if every low sink of iniquity and
appliance of decentralization must be adj
vcrtised, it shall not, at least, receive
editorial endorsement that those who
assume to guide our opinions shall not
thus unblushingIy proclaim to the world
that their own are for s;ts
This evil is not peculiar to Atlanta
1t is epidemic to a most alarming extent.
Ycnality is the sin of the age, and the
Press furnishes hundreds of conspicuous
and shocking examples. lsuppose that
there is no business man of our cities
, IL doospot know that a rood "fpe' will