New-York tribune., 1872-07-23
Words FIFTY SPOKEN.

The n. Y. Times has forcible leader
protesting against the Infamous practice of
dogging the steps of public men, listening to
their unguarded utterances, and serving them
up to the public with such sauce as the " in
"teryiewer supposes most likely to render
them piquant and spicy. That these reports
are never accurate or trustworthy, Intelligent
readers will presume; that they are often no.
toriously distorted and misleading, we do
know. Says The Times:
"a modest, retiring man in all his personal
tastes and habits obliged, in order to pro-
tect himself against prying intrusion OF the
most impudent kind, to live nearly as
possible in absolute secuson. These men would, other
wise like the frogs of Egypt mount into his bed-cham
Der and get into his kneadingtrough. Nay; like other
vermin among poor Pharaohs plaques, they would get
into his hair and then doubtless make boast OF It, The
homes should be exempt from intrusion they should DC
even more respected because Of the sacrifices OF their
time and their nclinaons, which they are properly eA
pocted to make.
at not with regard 10 the President that we depre
cate this introduction of eavesdroppng into politics.
II can in the end do him little harm. But it is disgrace
TO journalism and TO country Among ALI men OF the
least sense Of honor will say Of decency there Is no
act conemned than that Of spying and pryng into
the private life Of others This is OF the greatest
ofenses that be committed by one person against
another even 1t is done from personal motives and
to ferret out private injury. But when 1t Is assumed
as business 1t becomes, II possible, even moro in
famous jurst OF high authority has said OF detec-
tiyes They are dangerous instruments. When man
sets up as a hired discoverer Of supposed dehDduen
cies when the amount OF his pay depends upon the
extent his employment and the extent OF his employ
ment depends upon the discoveries he 10 a0e 10 MAKE
the that becomes dangerous instrument III TINS
boa hrufn nf fNUaf A. n
ing those who are supposed TO commit crimes, how
much more truer is IL OF those who go about caves
droppng for seandali It will be sad day for American
Journalism when this becomes one OF It's established
departments"
The above structures are aimed at reports
given in certain journals (n0t including IHE
TRIBUNR) of Gen. Grants conversations. III
the reporters of these colloquies concealed
from the President the fact that they were
taking down his words with intent to print
them, they deserve all that is said OF them.
Now look on the other side of the picture;
In this very same issue of The Times is
long account of what purpOrts to be private
conversations of Mr.. Greeley with his intimate
friends on his own premises at Chappaqua last
Saturday. The writer proclaims himself
regular reporter for The Times, admits that he
entered upon Mr.. Greeley's premises as spy
and fraud, meaning all the time to travesty
the doings and conversation of his host and
hosts friends-that he was there as an enemy
while treated and trusted as a friend! And
The Times sent him for this very purpose; for
he had been on the same errand and done the
same dirty work the preceding Saturday as
well. Has not The Times in tho paragraphs
above quoted proclaimed its own infamy as
well as that of its tool