New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-06
"Degeneraey OF the Press"

there was in the severe denunciations ci the
press by Gen. Butler and Judge Bingham IN
their recent speeches upon the expulsion
resolution. There has never been time
within our recollection, and that extends
back more years than we care to name Just
now, when the press 80 reveled in slander
and personal detraction, in sensational and
vulgar scandal, and in downright falsehood
and meanness. This is especially true oil
most Of the great newspapers Republican
as well as Democratic, and their representa-
tiyes in this city. There is no nlcanness snd
yillainy TO which most Of these correspond
ents will not stoop to create sensation, or
crafty their personal revenge or hatred.
No document, however private in its char
acter, or however damaging 10 the Govern
ment or to individuals its publication may be,
IS safe if these men can steal il or bride It's
repository to betray his trust. No rumor
against public man, however improbable and
infamous, from the President to the hunblest
Government Official, but is greedily seized
upon by these men and promptly published
in their papers. They stop at no ouense
against public decency and the public well
fare that NAV give their letters notoriety,
and wound some one who has resisted their
brazen importantly. The charges these fell
lows have invented and their principals have
published against President Grant should rem
der both infamous IN the eyes Of all respect
able, high-minded men.
All the high-sounding talk we hear about
the independence, dignity, and lofty moral
tone Of the press, so far as these mon and
the papers they represent arc concerned, Is
the veriest nonsense and humbug. Their in
dependence consists il abusing and libelIng
all who happen to incur their displeasure by
refusing to play the sycophant to them or to
advance their little private schemes Of ambi-
ton or profit. There are many striking ex-
ception5 to these correspondents and editors.
But they are far fewer than they ought to be,
and the number seems to be growing less.
With such illustrations as the New York
Tribune, the New York World, the Chicago
Tribune, the Philadelphia Press, the Detroit
Tribune, and many others we might name, OF
the absolute degeneCacy Of the press OF the
country before them, we are sure our readers
will bear us cut in our position that it needs
reforming much more than cur politics do.
We are not alone in this opinion Of the
general degeneracy Of the press. The New
York Independent and the Baltimore American
each have articles einbodying the same senti-
ments which have come under our obserya-
ton since our structures were written. The
Lndspeadent expresses the opinion il no meas
ured terms that the day of fair and manly
newspaper argument and discussion seems to
have passed, and that personal denunciation
and assaults upon private character have
taken its place, and constitute the main staple
of editorial comment. The opinions Of public
men, it continues, are no longer discussed
and their utterancc5 refuted; but all the
bitter and vulgar epithets in their vocabulary
are substituted. In the opinion Of the papers
to which we refer there is not an honest
and truthful man in public life outside their
own offices and the little mutual admiration
corterie to which they belong. This spirit OF
universal detraction aud abuse is spreading
among the press all over the country, and
grows out of the fact that the editors Of most
of the "great newspapers" graduated at the
"school for scandal" on newspaper row In
| this city-an institution" which has done
more to bring contempt upon the press and
destroy its influence than anything else. They
have lived, moved, and breathed SO long in
an atmosphere OF scandal and have so long
lived on the fruits of corruption that they i'm
agine all the world are rascals.
| The Baltimore 1mericGn emphatcally sus-
tains our view as to the degeneracy OF the
press. and declares that it not only has be-
come more leprayed than formerly, but that
it has degraded in influence over the minds OF
the people during the past year to an alarm
ing extent During the Presidential canvass
the large majority of what has heretofore
been considered the leading press Of the
country combined in an effort to overthrow
the Republican party and defeat Gen. Grant.
Every species of denunciation, with charges
of dishonesty and vllainy against its leading
men, were thrown broadcast over the coun-
try. The people showed their appreciation
of the power and influence of the leading"
press by re-electng President Grant and
largely increasing the representation Of the
party in Congress. The press has power
when it is fairly and conscientiously exer-
cised, but not arhsn it as prosttuted to pirate
malice and political tsageance.
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