The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1871-09-22
Grant Turning out the Reporters

Gen. Grant scta very bad example on
Tuesday when he excluded the reporters
Of the press from the interview between
himself and the Republican delegation
from Louisiana.
1t was not a private occasion. Neither
the President nor any otlier person had
any right 10 deny admission TO any citi-
zen who wished to attend. Still less
had any one the right TO turn away from
the door the reporters Of the public jour-
mails. They were their in the discharge
OF their Office, for the purpose of giving
to the people an accurate and faithful
account Of all that was said and done.
1t was tho duty Of the President to take
care that they were politely received. no
matter from what party or from what
papers they came !; and it was the duty
of the delegates 10 refuse To proceed with
the Interview unless all reporters and
all other persons who desired to come
in were freely admitted.
| AS we say, this was not private oc-
casiOn. il was not conference OH any
personal business. ii was meeting be-
tween the President of tho United States,
II public servant, and tho representatives
of the Republican party OF Louisiana,
likewise persons acting in Il public ca
pacity. The subject they came to dis
cuss was one also in the highest degree
concerning the public. and the public
alone. An unprecedented outrage had
been committed in New Orleans. The
troops of the United States had been
present with ball cartridges and Cat
ling guns to exclude from Il Republican
state Convention the majority of the
duly elected delegates and this exc'u-
sion was also enforced by body ofspe-
cial deputy marshals, armed to The teeth.
and enforced upon no other ground than
that the persons excluded were unfavOr-
able to the denomination of L.. S. Grant
for President. There was every public
reason TO believe that the President him.
self was a party TO this atrOcious trans,
action, and the Republicans of Louisi-
ana had sent up delegation to state the
facts OF the case, to demonstrate with
him, and to demand the punishment of
the guilty agents of this unparalleled
crime. And yet when the Interview
took place President Grant turned out
the reporters Of the New York journals
WHO announced themselves rs such, and
would not allow them TO hear a word
that was said at the interview, or take q
note Of any of the circumstances that at
tended il. lie was resolved that the
between the delegates and
should be in private, and that
no account of ii should reach the public
except one that was satisfactory to HIM
self.
This is not the conduct Of public Of
ficcr who is accused but is conscious OF
his own rectitudc. Such an officer would
desire the widest publicity for such an
lie would throw open his
doors that the whole world might know
all that was said and done. lie would
wish the reporters of every journal and
every party TO be present at such pub
lie examination of his conduct, and to
hear and report everything connected
with his denial and defence. lie would
seek to have the fullest light cast upon
every word, act, and purpose. and would
scorn to hide anything III shadow and in
secrecy.
Besides, Gen. Grants attitude in this
affair is that of king, and not that of a
Republican President. New Yolk Sun
.