Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-07-09
NOW AND THEN.

the San Francisco Bulletin remarks
that il has only been in the last
few years that prominent party leaders
were enemies of the press. The cause
is obvious. Men like Clay, Webster,
Benton, and their illustrious compeers. |
had no differences with the press of their |
day save that of opinion. the right to which |
both in forming and expressing was with |
them and should be sacred with all men
The remarkable difference between these
really great men and the vice dwarfed men,
that to the country's sorrow occupy their
places, is that the latter steal while the
bitterest foe of the statesmen OF the past
generation never dreamed Of making so
base, SO vile, SO damnlng an accusation.
In these latter days, however. such
charges are made, We sincerely regret to
say, with good and substantial grounds,
and 1t is the utter futility OF denial that
has excited the malicious anger of the
parties implicated to such an extent that
they have lost their reason, and thus
they seek to fetter the very power to
which they owe their elevation. The
history of the past session OF Congress,
with its investigations, lame aud impot-
emit as many of them have been, show in
the clearest and most unmistakable char
acters that corruption of the worst kind
a
ministration of public affairs. Not a
railway can be constructed, not postal
route let, not public building erected,
not harbor surveyed, and, worse than
all, no legislation of any character can
be had, unless somebody's palm has to
be filled, somebody has to be seen, some
body has to be convinced, by other APP
peals than to his honor, sincerity and
patriotism. This evil has grown to such
magnitude that the lobby has become q
recognized institution. What does this
term lobby mean? 1t means that it is a
market where mems votes, consciences
and their honor are sold as shamelesslya as
procuress vends the persons of her VIC
tins. This sbominable condition OF
Thugs, has been exposed, commented on
and denounced by the press, and that is
the reason why Carpenter, Stewart, Free
linghuysen, Edmunds, Poland and the
rest of the gaggers wish to close
the mouth that has shown their
criminality, and demanded their punish
ment. We can never believe that the at
tempts of these base wretches will be
successful. What pitiable condition
would the press be reduced, to be the
tool Of set of thieying scoundrels, COM
pared with whom, u burglar or q high
way robber is respectable man; or il
not the tool, to be compelled to see these
wretches steal and fatten ON their plum
der. and yet never dare to raise the
voice OF reproot, or the finger of scorn
or drag these unmitigated villains to the
bar Of public justice. In some coun.
tries where the government is more or
less despotic, the press, of course, is not
allowed to criticise, or even comment on
the rulers Of their country or their acts
but even in such places, there is decen,
respect paid to the opinion of mankind
and even of enlightened civilization
The journals are held to strict accounta
billy and kept under constant surveillance
as to matters of public policy, but they
are never required to defend crime oil
protect swindlers, even by their silence
1t has been reserved for the Forty-thirc
Congress Of the United States to require
the public press to witness crime, ant
even to become an accessory of swindlina
and vice, because it dared to make II,
sign. What condition to be reduced
Bad enough must it be to publish news
papers under the censorship of govern
ment officials, as in Russia, German,
and other nations of Continental Europe
but thousand times worse, would
be the attempt to issue a public journa
subject to the control of the ring rot
bers, the subsidy brokers, the lobbyis,
and jobbers of Washington. The frs
is involuntary servitude; the latter, th
tilthiest prostitution, running and d.
stroying the mind, body and soul {
those concerned in it. But thank Coo
the press of the United States, as bod,
will and has spurned the vile temple
The public press Of America will be tru
TO its mission, it will advocate the rigl
and denouuce the wrong. 1t will SUI
port or resist such measures as in il
judgment may be wise or hurtful. But
be the thrall of SO base, so vile, 30 degraC
ed q set of wretches, that have sold the
own and country's honor, that is an III
speakable disgrace, that to be consuE
mated the press itself must be a part
and sooner than so irredeemably degrat
itself, there is not a member of it, vii
some few exceptions, to which we sha
in day or two allude, that would n
sooner melt its type and break its pre-
SEES, than go forth to the world with Il
mark of the beast set on its forehead
plainly as it is ever described in Il
Apocalypse. No, public censor won
he welcomed, the chains Of official 81
veillance would be honorable compar
with the body soiling soul whitening ser
ice of the trebly dyed scoundrels thi
lately prostituted their positions as Sen
tors and Congressman in villainous I
tempt to destroy the liberties of the
fellow citizens; an attempt which was
base as it was futile, and wicked as it W
be effectual in consummating their ow
ruin.
A COUPLE calling themselves Mr.. al
Ms. Murdoch, attempted to blackms
Fernando Wood, but made signal fa
urc. Old Fernando would not pay