The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-29

Our correspondent in Spain presents us with
an amusing account of the services being rem
dered by Reuters agent to the cause of con-
stitutional monarchy in that country. Acting
on a well known maxim of Johnsons, he is
determined that those Carlst dogs shall not
get the best of it Unfortunately to the best
Intentions and Ia bold imagination this gen.
tleman does not think it necessary to join
study of such irumpery things as facts. A
dutiful son once observed of his father that
he was very clever, but so dreadfully ignorant.
Indeed, he qualified his sires deficiency of
knowledge with an even stronger adjective.
So it may be said Of Reuters agent, that an
acquaintance ever SO slight with the events of
the last three years is all that he requires to
render him valuable ally to the government
Of Don Alfonso For both the young King
and Marshal Serrano before him unquestion-
ably owed their recognition by the other
Powers OF Europe to a belief on the part of
the latter that the Carlist chances of success
were desperate, and this opinion must have
been in large measure due to the bold action
OF Reuters agent, or, as Horace would have
put it, to his splendid mendacity." But the
decent outward appearance of accuracy will
be lost by many statements, such as the one
that the liberal General Iona had succeeded"
in introducing convoy of provisions into the
Carlist town Of Andoain. The great lexicog-
rapher would hardly have stated in his ac-
count of the debates in the British Parliament
that the opposition, headed by Sir Robert
Walpole, had carried vote Of inquiry into
the conduct of the First Lord of the Treasury.
1t may seriously be asked whether Baron
Reuter- is treating the press quite fairly in
thus supplying it with official communications
instead of news. 1t is nothing less than q
breach Of contract to do so. American and
English newspapers have right to expect
carefully weighed and sifted intelligence for
their money. Instead of this they are given
the slovenly inventions OF clerk who
has received general instructions to send
reports favorable to the party in
Office, whatever it be. All that can
now be learned from Spain by means of
Reuter- kilograms is the opinion which Seiior
Canovas del Castillo and his friends wish for
eigners to entertain in respect of the political
and military situation. Four months ago the
only intelligence vouchsafed consisted of the
views held by Seior Sagasta and his col
leagues. A few weeks before King Alfonso
entered Madrid amid the acclamations of the
populace one heard that the inhabitants of the
capital were Infatuated against the Bourbons
If newspapers were read exclusively for amuse-
ment false piece of information might be
swallowed without much detriment to the
mind. But the pulse of the Stock Exchange
beats quicker or slower with each record of
the passing hour that is flashed across land
and sea. Fortunes are made and lost in
moment of panic, and heavy is the responsible
ity of men who lightly get these tremendous
influences in motion. Untrustworthy news
has ceased to affect the student of history
alone; it is deliberate fraud upon the mer
chant and it may be upon the widow and the
orphan, whose pittance is too often swallowed
up in that ocean of bankruptcies known as o
monetary crisis.