Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-11-27
DUTY TO THE LIVING.

'Tis but few days since the news was
received of the death of Henry Wilson.
Now from sources which gave out moth
ing bat contempt, contumeIy and harsh
criticism during his life comes praise,
laudstion and posthumous justice. 1t
would seem as though this was peculiarly
an American characteristic. We ridicule
and affect to despise our public men;
their faults are msgnified, their good
qualities slurred lightly over or admitted
as II with an indirect Withholding Of
some offsetting defect; but when the ear
is silent and the heart stilled in death,
those same censors have naught but
tardy praise. II public men died in the
beginning of their career they would be
spared much abuse, and great deal OF
newspaper indecenoy would be avoided;
and in many instances the editorial con-
science less freightsd with possible COM
junction. 'Twould seem as though the
simple fact Of o mans dying was SUM-
cient guarantee Of his good intent ana
moral worth, and that the justice denied
him through life was meted out In i'm.
moderate proportion after death. while
our public men live, their sincerity is
doubted, their good intent impugned,
their acts severely criticised; but when
death stamps his signet mark on the
man a universal sigh Of regret goes mp,
and often undue need Of elegy is chanted
over his remains by those who perse-
cuted him while in the flesh. The con-
clusion is irresistible; would it not be
well to temper criticism with gen.
erous need of forgiving allowance
and bestow little OF the praise
on living public character ant
less on a defunct one. Henry Wilson
was as good and great man two or three
months ago with a yelping press at his
heels as he is to-day lying dead in Balti
more with a universal eulogy from al
quarters. Granting that he was wrong
that he made grave mistakes and like al
, mortals committed errors OF judgment
. would not a little less righteousness {
. denunciation and lower key in th
). gamut of press criticism been as effectuf
A il salutary effect was meant. Com
!. ment on public men and press advice o
q public measures sound as well and ar
r more effective in clear strong voic
a than in the hoarse thunder Of indiscrim
nate condemnation, and it must certainl
+ be some help and encouragement to ma
o in high official position to be at least al
J. preciated and given due credit for wha
O ever qualities he possesses while he CT
>, note and profit by them. The clam
IA and noise raised by the press against &c
n. tain men and measures by their very j
"a discriminate intensity serve to defeat Il
b. object in view. They are looked upon
TO being but written for effect and are re
BY dered comparatively worthless, when
We few calm structures, written in spirit
be fairness would have the merit Of oandc
a. and be productive of mnch greater 60
as than the present style. As 1t is, the Ia
as of criticism is laid on so unsparine
no that those for whom 1t is intended /
ed come case hardened and ignore the we
IS. meant but unseemly advice. We shot
tie so speak OF public man living, II
ne when dead the words funeral Grafton p
Mt nounced over his dead body should l
,st sound formal and impelled as it w
he more from sense Of justice than
~ knowledge OF deferred truth.