National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-29
PARTLsAN PREss ORTTICLS

Mr. Cresweli must be- to say the least,
amused at the newspaper criticisms of his
administration Of the Post Office Depart
ment Since his resignation the opposition
press has been as remarkable for its COM
mendation of his career as Postmaster Gen
eral as it was distinguished for its wild
denuncistion and abuse before he placed
his portfolio in the hands of the President.
Even now, while the city journals are
sounding his praises and telling US what
great. reforms he introduced, what signal
ability he displayed at the head of perhaps
the most important and intricate Depart
ment of the Government, which every hour
in the day almost comes in immediate con-
tact with the people, the lesser papers Of
the same political faith are condemning him
for all manner of unheard-of crimes. This
transition from blame to praise, from CEN
sure to sweet approval, is SO sudden that
it is almost difficult to believe 1t possible.
Only ten days ago, when a Democratic
Representative was urging an investigation
into alleged frauds in mail contracts, these
same journals were re-echoing the accuse
tons and telling their readers how corrupt
Creswsu was what gross Encouragement
characterized the conduct of the Depart
ment Mr.. .Creswen has been charged with
almost every imaginable crime. The post
Office was used to enrich personal and poll
teal friends; he permitted the theft of
official stamps to be used in mailing political
documents; he directed his postmasters to
stop the circulation Of the opposition press;
he formed the design of taxing the news
papers out of existence by advocating the
imposition of extravsgsnt snd exhorbitant
hostages; he entered into conspiracy with
jobbers and spectators to rob the Govern.
ment and increase the patronage of the
party by Selling the telegrsphic lines; the
mere enumeration of the acts of wickedness
and villainy which he either advocated,
sustained, or supported would in fact fill the
eight columns Of this page. The journals
that defended Mr.. Creswell then were
bribed or bought by official advertising
they were in the ring" or expected to be
in the "ring." and could not be believed.
Mr.. Creswell in Office, member of Gen.
Grants Cabinet was everything that was
bad and wicked. Mr.. Creswen out of Of
fee, private citizen, q lawyer going back
to his briefs and practice-wesry of the
abuse and calumny heaped upon him, of
tAefive years of hard and ill-requited labor
at q Government desks all that is honest
and faithful. q man of genius" and 'the
highest order Of administrative ability
as one enthusiastic print says, "the best
Postmaster General we ever had" As
political friends of Mr 4n-----al.--S sre-
glad thatthe opposition press thus recog-.
nizes his Services to the country. We al
lude, however. to it only to call attention
tc the fact, which must be apparent to every
Journalist and to the public, that this indis-
criminate abuse of public men, because
they happen to be opposed, to us in politics,
is not only morally wrong, and, in politi-
cal point Of view, stupid, but that it is cal
culated to bring journalism into disrepute,
and destroy the influence which respectable
journalists who have pride In their pro-
fession-sre so anxious to extend and exert.
If during all these years that the opposition
and independents press have been denounc-
ing Mr.. Creswell, that officer, ashley now
assure US, was entitled to the unstinted
praise they are at present bestowhg upon
him, there is an account between taem and
their readers which is rather difficult of
settlement The lesson to be derived from
it, however. comes to nearly every jour.
nalist in one way or another every week in
the year. but simple as ii. appears. it is. it
would seem, impossible to learn it.