The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-05-07
E'mrtizan Maliganlfy.


In the government OF their conduct. When
tsfeif iktye been assigned to- high official trusts
are eHcompassed by the, ssialctities CT solemn,
oath-botad obligations every incentive
shat should direct in the faitllfal performance
5f duty-lo an act imposed upon them by tills
trust, it is light and proper that their motives
should be unquastioned, until there are devel-
opms,its that Justify suspicion. Itseems, how
ever, to be part of the mental and moral Or
ganism of the Conservative editors OF Virginia
to assign corrupt motives to every RepllaIcann IN
office whether his acts conform to- their pre-
conceived notions OF expediency and nght Oh
not Especially is this'the case, In their criti-
cisms of the President. Corrupt purposes are
associated in their ndnds wicll everything. he
does. If he performs a duty that in itself they
believe to be proper, they conclude that he has
been driven to it by apprehension OF popular
antago sRisin, or allured to- it by the hope OF
mereenary gain. When he aidetI in maintail-
ing tie authorities recognized by enc courts in
Louisiana and declared that the judicial de-
uartn,ent OF the government nNfss be respected
that civil war should be preventctl-.le was
accused Of being governed by corrupt Political
bias. When he refused to recognize the right
OF the Republican Governor OF Texas to retain
his Office by the interposltloa OF Federal author
ity, when it was a case clearly within the pow
er of the State authorities to adjust and settle,
considerations Of fear were attributed to him,
and a similar tleclension in the affairs of Arkan
sas. has been interpreted by similar baseness
of purpose. And Row, when he has interposeda
constitutional prerogative and exercised the
veto power to prevent the enactment into INV
OF a bill. Which he declares would ieopardize'
the credit OF the government and work Il harm
to the general interests OF the country, he IS
met with the charge that he is controlled by
the ..moaey bags'' Of Wall street, regardless OF
the interests OF the laboring classes
These various phases OF low nlalccs conss-
tcnt i'll themselves, and flowing from polluted
source, only have the effect OF exposing the al-
thors They do not rise to the dignity OF jour
nalistic Independence, and the exercise OF a
Jealous wltchfulness over the interests of the
people. They come within the latitude of that
miserable slavery to partizan rottenness and
vice, which is fast asserting supremacy over a
certain class of newspapers. Too shallow to
discuss with impartialty any great interest i'll
volving logical research and deductions, With
reckless disregard OF the true mission of jour
nails II they substitute slang for argument and
vulgar epithets for the elevated language OF
honest disputation. Living and rioting. in the
fetid atmosphere Of party prescription an rlI-
iignity and fe ading upon the gain that follows
pald,ring to tie blsest passions OF h'lnian ma
tue, they shrink from an act OF fairness anu
justice because it might inspire the confidence
OF the people in the wisdom and courage OF a
political opponent. journalism, when inspired
by such a spirit, becomes public nuisance,
and potent in strl.ncit i'll perverring and de
bauching public tastes and opinions. The great
mass of the people are honest in their iil5ea-
tions.s Whatthsy Want is the truth. Free
themselves from the petty devices OF the prrti-
zan trckster, they are induced to believe what
sbey see in the newspaper. They cannot TN
derst;.nd how it is that the conductor OF a pa
per can suppress or pervert the truth, or false
IL accuse a public servant, and hence are
led to the conclusion that the criticisms OF the
press Of their own party utilization are true. 1t
is here that the responsibility of the journalist
appears, and it is q responsibility that no. man
who values his CONSCIOUS integrity cal lightly
deal with. When it is remembered that the
newspaper is Il popular educstor--tilat It's con-
slant contact with its circle OF readers, lnroer-
ceptibly impresses their minds with the Thoughts
it premulgates. and fashions their opinions to
degree that is not appreciated either by writer
or reader, the necessity for publishing the HON
est truth becomes apparent. The man who
cannot rise above party tranInels-who cannot
fairly state the truth irrespective OF party as
ISOLATION, aud At the expense of political adj
vancement, who will not dare to do right in
defiance Of party influence is unfit to lrave the
direction OF so Important anagency in forming
just Or unjust public opinion.
There never has been in the tide Of time, Z pub
lie officer 50 nraliciotsly trlduced and slandered
as the present President OF the United States
Nor has this fiendisl1 spirit been confined tt
him individually. His immediate household
and every body related to him by kindred OF
friendship, Or political sympathy. have been the
objects of the most indecent and mendacou'
assaults from the partizan press. This, too, II
face of the fact, that there never has been a
President who has had to deal with more diff
cult and embarrassing questions, and whose re
xpunsblity has been Of such magnitude. III
tering upon the discharge of the weighty du-
ties OF his Office at the close OF bitter and pro
tracted sectional war, and entrusted with the
enforcement Of laws and the preservation Of
peace in a section where the social and industrial
systems had been uprooted and torn to pieces
it almost. passes comprehension how the cotr
try. has been made to progress, the laws have
been enforced, and the general interest OF Til
people preserved and protected with the for
bearaAce tffat las been manifested. No otire
than broad, bold mind, and firm nerve, col1lt
have successfully guided the helm OF State, ant
gradually brought into harmony and fraternity
the conflicting passions OF the country, through
this trying period. And this too, in spite Q
the Efforts OF nearly rle entire press of tlr
soatis to iiicIIcate distrlEst and inspire hate
Public sentiment has been melted against ever
one who came to The assistance OF tha. Presi
dent ils demanding the enforcement Of TIL
laws aiadian honest conformity so the obi ga
*oss imposed by the sitlsatiols. Epitisets Of de
D,sirciaeipr, business and social prescription
were tie ilsstruneIltalrie5 used to interpose oh
..oJ,x. t},ex r,ar~ os tbo