Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-09-04
NOT YET r OUT.

Some OF tnosc Weak-k1eed and TIM
orous journalists who are fearful OF
speaking the truth lest they hurt some
body's feelings or Of exposing q
wrong lest the reputation Of q few
prominent partisan pets should be in
jured. are getting tired OF hearing
about the back-pay grab. and term 1t
a worn out subject. There are other
journsls-thanks to the dignity Of the
profession and the honest indepen-
dence Of the press their number Is
very limlted-which have attempted
70 justify the grab, but have found no
welcome response 10 their toadying
and hypocritical articles in tho actions
or %utterances Of the masses Of the
people. These also are very weary
Of hearing about the enormity Of the
steal and the bad faith displayed
therein. They declare 1t a threadbare
subject. This may be so. Doubtless
nine-tenths OF the reading population
Of the United States have made up
their minds about this back-pay bus
iness. The resolutions Of Republican
and Democratic conventions, from
Maine 70 Texas, and the u%tterances Of
every mass meeting or convention Of
the people which has occurred since
the 4th day Of last March, would seem
to indicate pretty clearly to what con-
clusion they have arrived. But there
Is yet over a year to elapse before an
other election. and while the people
are all right on this subject, their rep
resentatives are very slow In return
Ing their stolen money. We fully be-
lievs that by the agitation Of this sub
ject In tho outspoken, incompatible
and powerful independent press
which by the way Is fast becoming the
Journalism Of this national least
two-thlrds Of the $500, 900 already re-
turned, has found Its way back into
the Treasury. There arc some ME to
whom to ascribe penitence and reform
as resulting from the structures Of the
press, would be an insult and unwar-
ranted by their past history. But tie
vast majority, II capable Of being In
fiuenced at all to honest deeds, re-
spect the popular wish or fear the
public condemnation. The journals
OF the country have been in this matter
the mouth and voice Of the people, and
the result Is not only gratifying to
journalism but pecunlarlly profitable
to tho Government. Among the re-
suits Of this constant agitation may be
noted the recent action Of Senator
Morton, Of Indiana. Mr.. Morton says
he never intended to take the money,
which we are glad to believe, but he
left It until very recently where, at
any time In the hereafter, 1t could be
drawn by himself or his heirs. This
was commented upon by the press, the
wrong attitude Of the Senator fully ex-
hibited until, In sheer self defense, and
as he says in his letter to the Secretary
of the Senate, directing him to return
the money to the Treasury, to "com-
ply with q formality which seems c
essary," he returned the money to its
proper place. Perhaps Senator Nor
ton would have done this had not the
subject been mooted, the true method
pointed out and the fallacy Of leaving
It In the hands Of Secretary Cor
ham exposed. We would willingly
believe such to be the case, but must
DO pardoned for thinking that at least
his recent honest and conclusive act
was hastoned BY the pnbllc press. 1t
don't do any hurt to talk about this
back pay grab. It can In no manner
result in injury to the people. even II
1t should make some Of their Repre-
sentatives either Is, 900 poorer or moro
unpopular. IL Isn't Injurious to dis
cuss Credit Mobiller iniquities o to
expose the hypocrisy of christian
statesmen" It Is tho duty Of a fair
and honorable journal to talk OF these
matters. And everything which need
lessly renders taxation greater, every
thing which Is corruptlng In Its ten
dency, everything which tends to pro-
tect the laborer, the producer or the
capitalist against a venal and debauch-
cd system Of legislation, or to benefit
and encourage honesty and stable busi-
ness enterprise Is Interesting to the
people and will never - wear out" by
discussion In their daily, weekly,
monthly or quarterly journals. 1t Is
better to have an evil worn out"
than smothered.