Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-04-11
PUBLIC DEFAIIERS.

~
at once set themselves up as target for
the shafts of their political enemies. Their
every act is made a subject of the closest
scrutiny their political record from the
day on which they cast their first vote is
made a theme for invidiCus comment
and even the sanctity of their homes is
invaded to find, ir their private rela-
tions, some act which can be so tortured
as to make political capital against them.
This Wholesale system Of defamation,
which is applied indiscriminately to all
who, in the furtberancc of laudable am
bition are desrous of testing their popu-
larity III the arena of politics, is one of
the woyst features of popular government.
For while the press and partizans Of one
criticize the salient features of the charac-
ter of a candidate for popular favor with
view only to condemn, those of the 9TH
er side 60 as far to the opposite extreme
in seryile laudations.
OF late years, however, there has came
into existence new method Of newspa-
per procedure, which has shown itself to
be powerful for evil. Certain journals
which, by espousing the national side
during the rebellion, acquired wide
spread influence among those who up
held the Union cause have, under the
specious pretence Of being the champions
of popular rights, sought to turn that in
fluence to the furtherance of their schemes
of petty revenge. Acting upon this prin-
ciple, the men in public life Of whom
they think plant, supple tools can be
made are beslobbered with fulsome praise,
their mediocre minds magniied into gi-
ant intelects their sickly efforts to obey
the behest of their master, the indie
pendent press" exalted to the dignity Of
craftsmanship. But wo to the man Of
true honor and principle, who has some
claims to be considered verseG in the sci
ence of government, and the irmncss of
purpose to carry out his views. The mo-
mcnt ne devates from the path which
these self-constituted guardians Of the
public veal have marked out for his foot
steps, the signal is given to let loose the
hounds of defamation and abuse upon
his track. 1t matters nothing how much
his course in the past has called forth
their sycophantic adulation--like an err
ing woman who has taken one false step,
| lo l.. Ia ~
a railroad tool" Creature of the mo-
nopoly," and as such, is held up by these
lights of journalism to public execration.
The standard by which a man in public
lite must regulate his actions is not ac-
cording to his sense ofduty as an officer but
the caprices of these journalistic blood
hounds. Their latest victim, after whom
the pack are now in full cry, is Senator
Irwin. With Senator Irwin's political
views the JOURNAL has no sympathy
He belongs to asparty the triumph Of
which we would regard as national dis
aster. 1t surrendered, first its principles,
and then its organization, in the hope of
getting chance to feed at the public
crib. 1t is, in the language Of one its for
mer chief organs, the Chicago Times, a
''putrid reminiscence." 1t met its death
blow on the field of Appomattox, and
what vitality it still exhibits is kept up
| through the cohesive power of public
piunder. But we arc ready to do justice
a member of that party, as readily as if he
were member of our own and we fan
| cy the Sacramento Union will find it has
! taken an uphill task upon its shoulders
when it undertakes to convince the peo-
pie of Northern California that the Sena-
tor from Siskiyou is not an earnest work.
er for what he deems the best interests of
the people influenced by his sense of du-
ty alone, and bound neither by the dicta-
ton of the railway corporation, nor that
of the Sacramento Union. The idea that
| he is sore headed because the Union'S
pet, Luttrell, received the Democratic
| nomination for Congress from this dis
trict, is as disgusting rs it is Ridiculous
| The nomination was in Irwin's hands.
the Union knows it and Irwin refused
it solely because it was believed that no
Democrat could be elected from the dis
trict. But as fools rush in where an
gels fear to tread" the nomination was
sought and obtained by Luttrell, and, as
much to his own surprise as that of any
one else he was elected.
1t is a duty which the press owes to the
the people, to scrutnize with care the
acts of public servants ond to denounce
them when wrong. The acts Of legisla-
tive body are always a just subject for
fair and liberal criticism. But If the at
tempt to dictate to men bound by every
consideration of honor to labor for what
is just and right be reprehcnsiblc how
much more so it Is to attempt to stigma
tie and defame them for the acts per-
formed in the pursuance Of their sworn
duty. A few more malignant efforts like
this last has been, and men in public life
will court the censure rather than the
praise of the " Independent press"
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