The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-07
NORTHERN FOOLERIES AND
SOUTHERN LIMITATIONS.

interviewing, so called, had its origin in
some of the sensational city papers of the
North, where all the isms, of every conceiva-
BILE sort, arise to curse and disgrace the
country. Abolition, higher-law, socialism,
infdelity, spiritualism, women's rights and
free-love, all had their conception, birth,
nursing and growth in that fruitful region
of inventions. How such bare-faced inn
peItinence could have been tolerated, at
first, and received any sanction from the
public, is amazing. But the Northern
mind had been prepared for it, and well
coined its advent, as it has other prepos-
ferrous fooleries. 1t is simply this. When
any PUBLIC man of any notoriety happens to
come within reachof newspaper, an emil
sary is sent to call on him, wherever he may
be found, and question him on all subjects,
which may be deemed of public interest.
His answers, "good, bad and Indifferent, !"
are noted, and then given to the world
through the columns of the sensational
paper, for what they are worth, and they
are commonly worth very little. How
could they be, under the circumstances?
The reporter is not often man of any cul-
ture or enlarged information-his principal
qualification necessarily has to be brass-he
forces himself on his victims, and is not
very particular how he reports their conver-
sation, except to make it appear that he
was treated with consideration, and that
the paper he represents is highly thought of
for its mass of early news and general en-
terprise. Should the gentleman interviewed,
treat him with marked coldness, or
kick him out of his room, he is not
likely to make this known to the world.
But even should the interviewer be
man of intelligence, with the or
binary manners. of gentleman, how is it
possible that he should be able to give fully
and fairly the views and opinions of any
public man in this loose way2 If it is ne
cessary or proper for the sentiments of poll
ticians to be made known, let them address
their fellow citizens publicly, or write let
ters, over their own names, that a due res
possibility may rest upon them, and no
chance be given for misrepresentation, or
denial or backing down under cover of mis-
statements of Irresponsible interviewers.
That is the goc I'd fashioned way, and we
see no reason kparting from 1t.
To such 4 .kcess has this low habit of
interviewiDZ 5cn carried, that at the North
men of the smallest caliber and consequence
are called on and their sayings noted, and
even criminals, of both sexes and of the most
abandoned character, are visited questioned
and their conversation reported, to demon
alize and corrupt the minds and hearts of
young and old. There seems no limit to
this pernicious practice, and it is getting
worse and worse, lower and lower, down to
fearful depth Originating in the North,
the hotbed of corruption, it soon spread to
the West, and has been gradually extend
inc South, since the close of the war, and
the great influx of carpet-baggers and other
disagreeable novelties. Whether the prac-
tice will become general here, as in the
North and West, we cannot say, but we
have our fears. We have been led to these
remarks from seeing a respectable Texas
newspaper, Of large circulation, commenc-
ing the thing lately, and trying the expert
ment to see how it viii take with
the Southern people 1t has had some
sort Of person, signing his letters
'.R, (Mr. Rude0 going about the State
and calling on respectable gentlemen,
and annoying them with impertineni
questions, and attempting to report theiI
answers, in the true Northern style. We
heartily sympathize with these gentlemen
on these recent infictions. and hope they
may not be repeated for their discomfort
and annoyance. II the reports Of this Mr.
s.I2'' may be taken as true, they seemed tc
have tried hard to be polite and to be a.
communicative as they dared to be with thii
rowing instrument Of enterprising journal
ism. One Of the unfortunate gentlemen
happened to be sick. but this did not pro
vent 'Rr from forcing his way to the sicl
room and commencing operations. He doe
not sppear. from his own confession, % hav,
met With particular success but be did. b.
free uss Of the pump, finally gel the "a i'm
nortant admission, that the Galveston
was an excellent paper furnishing all 81.
news 81 the earliest moment Otherwise
us gather fron the report. rather garbles
We suspect, thai, politically, and rersqnallyl
I rI ~. r..I .s...h - -