Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-06

SHo AS1Ni5A 1NSN-hdi ~ SdS1s aAA VIC
perceive no reason why good men can
not make Mardi Grds as pure here as
elsewhere. We presume, however, that
the Register is dealing with existing
facts, not mere possibilities. Certain
ly it would be more natural, as well as
desirable, to have holidays of home
growth, suggestive of our own
history, and preservative Of
our own traditions. Last month
there passed unnoticed, a day which
ought to be a holiday, particularly in
Tennessee. We mean the 8th of Janu-
airy, the anniversary of a battle at New
Orleans, which, in regard to the num-
bers involved and their achievements,
has no parallel in history since the
struggle of the Thermopyla.
But this is not the matter of public
interest to which we would call atten-
ton. The Register of Tuesday criti-
cised a proposed public procession-a
public affair. The Register of Wednes-
day tells one of the results:
AT the time this article was written
and published there was an advertise
ment IN the Register Of the Nardi Gres
festival to remain until the day, which
"a worth about one hundred and fifty
dollars. 1t would appear from the &C.
ton taken after the appearance Of the
Register that the high-priest Of the
affair, considered this advertisement as
a Gribe, by which the Register was
bought to advocate and puff the Mardi
GrGS festival and the dollar store, as
the frostS Of the night had hardlymelt-
ed, or the paper upon which our article
was printed was scarcely dry, before he
ordered the advertisement taken out of
the Register, and the bill sent to him
for payment. This was done, and our
bill for f~Orty-eight dollars was prompt
ly paid by his check upon the First
National Bank, the signature to the
check being a beautiful specimen of
fancy penmanship, which the bank
duly hOnored, 50 that so far article
has cost us one hundred and two dol
lars, and probably as much more that
would have been made from the So
ciety."
We III disposed to believe that our
contemporary could, if he would, con-
tinue the advertisement till date, and
recover at law the remaining one hun
dred and two dollars. The insertion
Of an advertisement for a specified time
is q contract, from which neither party
can recede without assent Of the 9TH
er. 1t is no part OF that con-
tract, that the newspaper should
puff the thing advertised without
regard to its merits. The courtesies of
the press are not at all stinted, in re-
gard to all enterprises worthy Of COM
mendatiOn. The editor who calls the
attention of his readers to a valuable
article, thereby benefits the readers as
well as the advertiser. The editor
who raises a cry Of warning against a
class OF advertisements, unfortunately |
growing numerous of late years, and
which offer opportunities, for criminal
practices, is equally benefting the pub
lie. There is a terrible responsibility
attaching to this class of advertise
ments, which are so deIicately couched
in simple language that they sometimes
creep into even religious Journals.
Whenever discovered they should be
excluded from every respectable
or responsible journal.
Unless the newspaper is to warn
against evil wherever found, ourboasted
freedom Of the press is but a barren
boon. All public enterprises areamen-
criticism by the public prints-to
be commended or condemned, accord
ing to their deserts. Those that are
m~eritorious viii profit by intelligent
discussion; those that are not SO will
fall before it, as they should. All pub
lie officials are amenable to the same
censorship; it Is a means for keeping
poor human nature IN the path of duty;
1t is the officer we criticise, in bis pub
lie capacity, not the man as an individ-
ual. The principle goes even further.
The officers Of any private corporation
be it railroad, bank, insurance CON-
pany, OF whatever else-who are
abusing their trust, and fatten-
ing on the robbery Of stockholders,
and orphans perhaps,
should be denounced and their wrong
exposed. The public should be
warned Of all shams and swindles in
form. The laws of libel are
stringent, as they should be, and pri-
vate reputation is sacred but the pub
lie acts Of men holding positions which
affect large classes Of the community,
should be held liable to newspaper
comment. How a We hope ever to
cope with the widely ramifed corrup-
ton of the present times, if the press be
muzzled: As a power for good, and
evil, it has immense capacities,
not half developed as yet. 1t is not
RIGHTEOUSNESS we advocate, but liberty,
truth-telling, responsible criticism.
Jim Fisks Of high and low degree
must be exposed in the public prints,
if the people wish to get out Of the
Of such cormorants.
THE removal of the Territorial of
fcers of Colorado surprised the people
there very much. Mr.. Chaffee, the
delegate in Congress from that Terrific
ry, writes to Denver that Grant re-