Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-03-15

Remorseless Criticism.
The plitcipal Functions Of the press urlar
popular government are two in uumuer-the
supply OF news sud the criucism Of the govern
rnent-ult tbc '' he-Ast- usde-mIsi a kef-NE-Wao-
has not % siy e OF criticism, but the lUcetant,
vigiiaut, reIaorseless turning over, day by day.
OF the acts Of men in power, with view 90 call
ing the attention Of the public 10 all ans %
negligence, or ignorance, OF intention which
any body entrusted with authority msy have COM
united OF nay he proposing 10 commit.
It IL hardly necessary &c credit this epifome If
Of the whole duty Of al editor, TO the N. y. Ma
ton There Is an incidental iutimsaor sIe-
where in the article Of which If Is the nub, to The
eject that it may be OF some Importance thst the
criticisms Of the press should be honest aui i'm
partial but it is fair to c0n'true the -NaioHs
theory by it. practice. sul to infer that it con-
siders tina, to be point Of altogether minor o.
sequence Tue American editor must be nothing
if not critical, Sc to the chief executive IN part-
culsr anu public men in general, and hs cri-
licism must be hard, ceusorious, reHorss-
isss. When the acts Of public man who uay
be subjected TO such criticism run short, then the
editor must surmte something bad which he
"proposes to commit 50 and fire away.
We decline to accept this statement % cur
duty, even from 10 infslu5le + mentor as the
Nation The duty Of a journalist, as We regard
il. does rot di;fr so widely in kind from that Of
any citizen. He Is indeed more often called
upon to citicize-thst is part Of he business; but
bis crilicismF, We understand the ethics Of
journalism, ,hculd he fair, charitable, kindly,
I'LL the tject Of his Judgment is fairly proved 70
be unworthy Of conadeaoe end respect
Aimctt every community has one or more #
lhcse remorscless critics in private Hfe-men
who are always sitting IN juigueu; on tbe acts
snl motives Of their fellows who ever stsui
ready to stick a finger into every sore spot, aId
10 call everyboiy's sitention TO any zine IF neg
Hgence OIL iguoTsuce even, they can with inces-
ssnt turning over discover in any individual
who exercise devilifh ingenuity IN inyeutiug
bad motives for good sets who never imputc
good motive, when had one can be su.misei;
and VINO keep on hand an exhaustless gore Of
proohe,its Of evi which somebody d" propose TO
Commit, f.r Ute when the supply Of material t5-
present fGul,-fnding ruus thor1 What NUS
arces such persons are in any Peacesbie com
muuityl And how little respect is felt for them,
when their character as fault-fnlers ana croas-
ers hec1meE fully understood
We regard the newspaFers,-s there age
tuch-which are among journals what toch
persons as We have described are among mcu,
as as much greater nuissnces, as the voice OF
newspaper is louder than that Of private ili.-
vi3u.l sud We purpose sedulously to avoid ;oi-
lowing either the Nation 3 theory or practise, in
that regard
As the Nations article is eviieutiy INTENDED I
to sci forth the duty Of remorseless criticism Of
the President, we go further, and say that we
consider the chief magistrate Of the lsni espe-
cialy entitled TO the fair and confederate judy .
ment Of the press and the public. No oae pro .
badly, Tot in that high position, can begin TO +
resiize its multijudiuous sni crushing respIus .
bilities sad the difficulties which beset the con-
scien';ou. < .cise Of such wide and tremendous .
ROVER. When we coutiier the extent Of our i'm
neuse country, the multitude Of conflicting IN
ierests Of warning factions, Of seli-s-ekiu- men,
among which the President must decide. the
thought Of his constant weight Of care and re-
tpopsitiity, becomes sPalling. What could sur
tam any uau in such position, if b. could 10.
rely on be unSuspicious judgment ani kindly
critics the msss oinielhgent citizens 1.-THE
RUE laid down by the Nation were 20 he inieel
the rule. every public Office would be nothing
hut pi.,ory. and 10 man could be found wiling
Tor moment 10 sc-ept it, rave one with thu
morsI hide q 4 Ihirocerous, some Tweed, TO
whom praise ard blame, kindly appreciation Eal
'' r,morseless " criticism, are ali oae. 20 long ss
he Is bic pockets
We believe in exercising the utmost care in Sc
Letting men for every position Of authority. Let
Us ge', if We caa, honest, sAle, careful and up
right meu; and when We get such in Offices Of re-
sponsibility, e, Us hold up their bands, and en-
coursge them IL well doing. They are TO be by
10 mesus exempt from criticism, but let the
criticism be s'ssyt fair, impartial, consiisrate.
This j. necessary, because in default Of angels
ard srchsnces to Gil the high places on earth,
re mus, Put up with mortSls in them; and NOR
tsl. sre entitled 10 kindly consideration from
their fellow mortsls till they clearly forfeit al
claim for enient criticism, even though they
happen to be in positions Of peculiar responsi-
billy Il would not. S. We have tuggettei be-
fore, improve even the present condition Of our
civil service. to fix things so tina; 30 high
minded OF reasonably sensitive man, would ever
consent to hold public Office