Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-24
ssThe Nuisance Of the Day-The wash
tngton Correspondents and w hat "a
do with Him -

These are the head lines to q cartoon in yes
terdsy's Graphic, depicting, that paper Gays,
"the proper treatment due to the irresponsible
and professional libel mongers who, as Wash
ington correspondence live by the daily assas-
sinstion of character. Uncle Sam, not without
many quslms at the unpleasantIy odorous ma
ture OF the task, has taken q correspondent
by the ear and Is daintily depositing him in the
congenial gutter, whittier also has fallen the
basket OF fresh lies which the libeller was about
TO dispatch 10 his employer when seized upon
by justice and the tongs."
The papers IN the basket are lsbeled, "Sun
ISLANDERS" Tribune HowIs, !" "Chsmpio Liar
Gibson" "Key Hole Confidence" "Lies by
Telegraph" ISLANDERS on the President"
"Yarns about the Boss" 'sLibels on Eyery-
body" The representative independent cor
respondent" who is being dumped in the gut-
ter, is delineated IN q combination make-up.
having the hang dog SLOUGH of Gibson, the
pinched forehead and abdomen of Washington
and the truly good smirk of White. The Graphic
says edItorially upon the same subject:
The cartoon on our first page this morning
touches upon matter that has become a IA.
uOnal disgrace. From Washington there flows
steady stream of SANDER and malignant false
hood to the great newspapers throughout the
country; and by these latter it IL distributed to
every household in the land. The Washington
correspondents spare no man because of his
slightest hostility, or whom they or their en-
piOyers fancy that IL is their interest To malgn,
Is assumed TO be guilty without even the fer IN
OF an investigation They never retract their
accusations, and plead the freedom of the press
IN defence of their sssassinations Of character
The press and the country are disgraced by
this constant mud throwing, and the victims
are usually without q remedy or defence.
The success achieved by the Times in expos
Ing the Tammsny frauds has had a vast infiu-
6Dce in setting this food of calumny in motion
Papers like the Tribune and the San, fancying
that the people are anxious for more '.expo-
this or that public man, or of fraud in connec-
ton with this or that public measure. 1t Is
inevitable that when enterprises are I'M
dertaken by government which involve
many persons should be disappointed and
angered at not receiving direct or
INDIRECT profit thereby. Hence there are al
ways those who are ready to attack men who,
worksOr Superintendent Mullett, have failed
TO meet their wishes. These persons find
ready tools in the Washington correspondents;
and II Is 10 disappointed greed, and detected or
portion Of the charges made against those con-
cerned in public Improvements, or the collection
OF the revenue due.
Aside from the fragrant injustice and burning
Shame OF this systematic manufacture of afro
cious hbels, there is one result which is sure to
follow. When some serious fraud is actually
committed and exposed the public will refuse TO
believe II. Ii will be remembered how often
innocent men have been falsely charged with
dishonesty by irresponsible newspaper SANDER
eIs, and no more credit will be attached to the
charges against guilty men than is now given
TO false charges against the innocent. The
reckless ness with which exposures are now
manufactured will thus give comparative inn
munity TO real criminals, and will draw upon
the country the very evils which the newspapers
now profess to be 80 eager to combat.