The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-29
Inter-Ocean Fiasco.

Inter-Ocean Eiasco.
The world does not need any arch.
angelic trumpet to make proclamation
of the solemn fact that the Chicago or.
gan, commonly known among men as the
Inter Oceaia-without a hyphen lis con.
Quoted with far less wisdom than pre-.
tension. Indeed, had its wisdom at all
equaled its pretensions, even Solomon
in all his glory would not have rivaled
the Inter Ocean - without a hyphen.
True, its teachings have all the ponder
ous solemnities Of 'proverbial philoso-
phys" but they are solemn after the
manner Of Martin Farquhar Tuppef, and
not after the manner of Solomon. And
yet the assumption of remarkable wis
dom sometimes and in certain quarters
gains credit as though it were wisdom
itself.
On this account, some surprise has
been manifested at the stupid fiasco of
the Inter Ocean in its recent tilt at Sec
retary Bristow. But it is result quite
too natural to justify surprise. The at
less, and withal SO venomous, as to carry
upon it's own front the brazen imprint of
the private malevolence that gave it
birth. What private griefs the Inter
Ocean hath against Secretary Bristow,
we know not; neither do we care. But
we do know that such vaporings and
threats of exposure of evil deeds made
against public officer at the moment
when he is graphing with the most stu
pendous combination Of frauds upon the
government that over disgraced the call
endar OF crimes, should never have been
uttered, except upon testimony as clear
as the sunlight itself. And yet these
malicious innuendoes were absolutely
baseless. Even the Inter Oceans own
witnesses, the very men whom it pre-
tended to vindicate, not even excepting
Babcoek himself, have made public de-
nial of the statements put forth by that
ss'organ" rejecting upon the Secretary's
fidelity to his public trusts.
y 1t certainly does not matter to us how
,often nor in what particular manner the
Inter Ocean, or any other ''organ," may
see proper to come within the category
lof my "Lord Dundreary," and make an
ASS Of itself; but it does concern the
high functions of upright journalism ev-
'erywhere, to see to it chat when law and
authority have grappled with iniqnity
fin high places, and are holding gilded
crime by the throat, the press shall not
Enterpose its power paraIyze the hand
Iof justice, by stabDing its ministers in
the back.
In the present instance, little, If any,
harm has happened to public interests
lby reason of any weakening OF official
power under the attack upon
its minister. But, for this, the.
Inter Ocean can claim small credit. 1t
was only because the poison immedi-
rately met its antidote that it failed to
prove lnischieyous. The malicious in-
tent certainly was not wanting; it was
in It's lack of power that the failure
arose. And no more ridiculous fasco
can occur than when malice seeks to in
jure but is without the. power to wound.
1t is the pitiful exhibition of wlckedness
combined with weakness. 1t Is the viper
gnawing at the file.
We are fallen upon evil times. The
demon OF avarice, an overpowering lust
OF wealth, the basest passion that can
rule In the breast Of man, is overriding
the better nature OF those in places OF
duty and of trust. Public confidence is
everywhere betrayed; public interests
are traded upon; public treasures are
stolen by men whose names bear the
blazonry of high sounding titles among
the distinguished of the land, and who
come forward now and confess them
selves to be confederates in crime, bound
ogether By the common bond Of thieves,
the sharing OF their common plunder.
at such time it behooves the public
press Of the country, II it needs must ex-
ercise the wisdom Of the serpent, to do
1t with the harmlessness of the dove; In
order that fraud and crime, however
greatly enfiched, may not take courage
and fancy themselves martyrs to injus-
tice, when they are naught but victims
TO the righteous penalties Of the law.
80. ----sse-r---------
That Postal Fraud.
The press and people look to Con-
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