National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-21
ONE OF THE TRICKS OF THE
EORBY 1EE.Hg z -

~ u becoming known 10 thar INFECTIOUS
and indefinite organization. 1.-THE Washing
ton Lobby" that newspaper influences In
support Of schemes pending before Congress
or the Executive Departments Is not 50
readily invoked as they seem to have i'm
agined OF, when invoked, as 1t is very
rarely, not 80 eficacious as some Of them
have seemed to believe. The explanation
Of this is, simply. that journalists and Con-
gressmen. or officials Of any degree, are apt
to view their measures with critical eye,
and to pass judgment upon them from an
|unprejudiced and disinterested standpoint.
Another Il, that the columns of every re-
spectacle Journal are open to the discussion
Of either side o. any topic worthy of public
attention. But just now, the Lobby seems
to have adopted new methods method
which betrsys extraordinary impudence as
it betrays extraordinary shrewdness. It
has probably developed itself in every
newspaper Office in this city, but so far as
we have been able to observe has had no
direct effect. Proceeding upon the correct
assumption that the editors and publishers
Of Washington newspapers are deeply in
terested In the affairs Of the District the
modest lobbyists, including gentlemen who
may be interested In questions of political
import approach them with arguments to
show that Congressman may be influenced
to cast their votes in favor of the District
government in any matter pending before
their respective houses, If reciprocal sup
port from the newspaper approached Is
given to some especial scheme. Failing In
this proceeding, they generally resort to
the argument Of threats. "If you pitch
..into q certain Northwestern railroad
Scheme. was the elegant expression ofone
'fof these gentlemen few days ago,
''you may expect that your District
''affairs will be pitched into by certain
Northwestern Congressman" In this
brief sentence the new trick Of the lobby
as 1t relates 70 influence upon newspaper
men Is pointedly exposed. We do not hest
tate to denounce 1t as most infamous. On
its face 1t is species Of Matchmaking
kind Of coercion to which no honorable
man will submit 1t supplants, by an ap-
pearance Of. force, all the argument that
may fail to show the existence of reason
and equity, and reduces the support Of both
the interested parties to q question of cor
rupt bargain and sale. 1t Is disgraceful to
both, and an insult to their integrity. We
do not believe, however that 1t has any
foundation in fact, or that 1t Is based upon
any truthful understanding between the
lobbyists and the men they assume to rep
resent Members of Congress must know
that partisan journals, as well as nom
partisan ones have duties and obligations
to principle and to their readers which are
sacred trusts, as sacred as those they them |
selves owe to their constituents and to the |
political organizations of which they may
be members. 500 -.--.
The. District government, 30 far as we
are concerned, is matter Of no especial |
interest, except that we earnestly desire, in |
common with the overwhelming majority |
Of our citizens, that it shall be administered |
in the interest of progress, that it shall re-
iound to the credit of our people and to the
honor of the nation, and that 1t shall re-
,eive equitable consideration at the hands
IF the Ge2sral fgys!RRHs9t Itit dqfs not
deserve this, If it has not earned such con-
'ideration. and we solemnly assert our belief
hat it has, we shall be the first to denounce
t. and the most earnest among those who
nay demand punishment for any delin-
Iuencies that shall be proven. It stands
o-day accused and on trial but 1t stands
,roudly defiant of Its sccusers, because 1t is
by a.conciousaess Of innocence.
let it be judged upon its own merits, and
ct Us neither complicate Its affairs by dis
;raceful jobbery and trading of influences.
or degrade 1t by listening to the outrageous
Of pretentious scoundrels who
claim to carry the votes of
Ionest and upright Congressman in their
ockets.