Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-03
sEMPNIS APPEAL
TUESDAY. go: AUGUST 3, 1875.
HE VAR on THE NEwsPAP.as.

EHE VAR o. TIE NEwsPAPEds.
In a couple Of lines we are told by
some poet, who understood human ma
iure, that
"Eor5gRe e'er lelt the halter draw
with good opinion OF the Law
This couplet may be applied 10 the poli-
tcians and public plunderers with bat
tered regulations. An editors pen per-
frauug their vulnerable hides is the
"halleI" which gives them "no good
opinion Of the law" Of newspapers.
Ogkes Ames died cursing the newsPa-
psrs. Boss Tweed hiss the same antipa-
thy 10 the press that the devil has fOr
holy wafer No Cog with the hydro
plObia ever had 81 much repugnsnce
Tor water ss Irvine, the lobbyist, who Il
now a fugitive on account Of the wicked
aud malignant newspapers. King, the
psIjuTgd postmaster Of the house OF rep
resentstives, and member Of congress
elect, swesrs that the peIverse newsps-
pers are striving from day to day to
blow TO pieces his sweet-scented reputa-
ton. In his last speech, Henry Ward
Beecher turned up his sanity nose at
the press. Mat Carpenter, since the ex-
posure Of one Of mis- peccsdiLOes, seems
to think the press has an especisl grudge
against him, aud Of course a newspaper
j. his abomination. Poor little Smiler
Coliax forgets his shame, his peUuries,
snd his temperance lectures in whining
over the ISLANDERS Of ithe hundred horse
power engine that forced him into re-
TRACY and obscurscy. Over his grog, |
Old Zack Chandler curges the art OF
printing. The clang and racket OF one |
ofHoe's cylinder presses stings and irri- |
tstes his pious soul. Since the press eX- |
posed that little episode between POme- |
roy and York in the Kansas legislature, |
POmeToy is haunted by the newspapers. |
He sees them in the rainbow and the /
clouds He smells them and tastes /
them In his victuAls, and hears UleiT /
villsinous thunders in every sound, /
whether il be the croaking OF q frog OF (
the bray Of donkey. These battered
and bruised enemies of the press are
sending up a concentrated howl against |
the newspapers, the author of all their
woes. They are clamoring for more
stringent laws on libel. The United
States press cannot be affected by the
eumity and utilization Of these corrupt
but foiled and exposed knaves. The
newspapers have, no doubt, destroyed
these men, but it was because they de-
served destruction. So far as our Obser-
walton goes the people have repudiated
every man,upon whom the newspapers
have made WEI. In discussing this sub
Ject the New York tribune says: $50
Lar from newspaper attack being neces-
sarily fatal to the prospects Of public
man, there is nothing that so nearly ap-
proaches a blank cartridge, if It's only
foundation is in malice. When the
great man himself furnishes the am.
munltiOn, that is quite different thing.
He cannot complain if his own words
and acts are used to riddle him. His
enemies may be awakened to fresh ac-
tivity by baseless attacks, but such IS
saults simply strengthen him with his
friends and the unbiased public. Indeed,
the American people cling to their idols
with rare tenacity, and with devo-
ton that nothing short Of dsmning
proof can Overturn." The comments Of
the Tribune are true. The Radical pa
pers make no personal war upon such
men as Thurman, and the Democratic
press treat with personal respect Bout
well, Anthony and Morrill,, because any
attack on their personal integrity would ,
only IUjure the ssssilant. The public |
man who seeks TO avoid scrutiny, or
shriuks from investigation, is Justly sub.
jet TO suspicion; and he who cannot !
bear the test Of thorough discussion is
Of public confidence. Men in r
office and men aspiring to Office are now 7
tested by the magnifying lens of public {
observation. That tax Of criticism, cen
sure or praise which has been LAID on =
has been pretty rigidly en- S
breed in ali ages and in all countries.
But Of late years, in the United States, b
!" -ANAN We LSHN SACuAs fA4ObiAlC1sf lOOByH /
sts like Irvine and King, members Of =
congress like Ames and POmeroy and
municipal officials like n
rweei, and preachers like Beecher, this So
ak has fallen more heavily than usual.
The press and the people seem to think b.
nat the privilege Of levyipg this i'm a.
'ost on public men has become vested
iglt, and that no man is entitled to pub 4,
ic confidence till his character has been OF
.uiy cudgeled TO extract the last parti- I
lie OF dross in order TO qualify it, by this -
process, for it's future useful - Z,
less and happiness The men who sre ~
owing at the press have nobody to
lame but Themselves. Nothing is SO al
1Jurious TO q newspaper as slanGerous NJ
nd unjust assault upon a good man; &c
nj the increasing circulation and power
I the newspapers, and the retiracy Q! Ee
be men they have exposed, is en- uuerr- be
lg indication as to the injustice which
az been done the knaves who Sc elk TO se
venge their shame by abusing tie 70
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