National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-08
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE ADMIN.
ISTRATIOE.

We have frequently had occasion to call
the attention of our readers to the partisan
character of the Associated Press dispatches
from the Southern States; but it seems that
this partisanship is ,.as well served by deeds
of omission as deeds of commission. When,
as in the Alabama Legislature last week,
anything occurs which is of political sig
nifcance in opposition to the Republican
party or any of its members, the wires are
straightway burdened with garbled and
prejudiced statements of it, which add to
the force of the original act; but when, on
the contrary, anything is done which may
be construed as friendly to the party or in
approval of the party leaders, the utmost
care is taken to prevent its publication.
For example, as long ago as the oath ult.,
the South Carolina Legislature adopted the
following resolution by a strict party vote,
the Democrats of course voting in the neg
alive:
Whereas by the National Constitution it is
the duty of the United States to guarantee to
every State in this Union republican form
of government, and to protect each of them
against invasion, and, on application of the
Legislature, or of the Executive when the
Legislature cannot be convened, against do
nestle violence; and whereas it is the duty of
the President of the United States to take care
that the laws be faithfully executed; and
whereas, on the 4th day of January last, GER
tain persons claiming to be members of the
Legislature of the State of Louisiana, but
who were not legally returned as such, with
the aid Of q secret political and military Or
ganization known as the "Wbite League" did,
by overriding all forms of parliamentary and
constitutional law, attempt to usurp the legis-
latiYe department of the government of said
State, and did prevent, by force and IN
timidation, the peaceful assembling and
organization of the duly accredited mem
bers to the Legislature of said State; and
whereas, upon the call of the legally recog-
nized executive of said State, (the convoca-
ton of the Legislature being prevented by
said usurpatioR,) the arm of the National
authority was successfully interposed for the
preservation of the public peace, the main
tenance of good order, and the protec-
ton of the peoples representatives and
whereas we recognize 1t not only as the
right, but regard it as the duty of the National
Government to maintain the rights, privileges
and immunities of all American citizens, re-
gardless of race, color or previous condition
of servitude; therefore,
Be il resolved by the House Of Repressn-
tdtiVes, the Senate eoneWrring, That the
thanks of this General Assembly are eminently
due, and are hereby rendered, to His Excellency
the President of the United States for his
prompt and efficient action in preserving the
public peace, in maintaining order, and in
preventing anarchy in the State of Louisiana.
ResoIUsd, further, That His Excellency the
Governor be, and he is hereby, requested to
transmit to his Excellency the President of
tie United States a certified copy of these
resolutions.
Not only did the Associated Press fail to
give an account of these important proceed
ings, but many of the South Carolina news.
papers, including, we regret to say, the
Columbia nion-HeraEd. purposely neg
lected to print anything re garding the res
olutions in their reports of the proceedings
of the Legislature. There can be but one
deduction from this evident conspiracy to
suppress legitimate news, and that is to be
found in the acknowledged fact that in the
South, if not in other sections of the coun-
try, the Associated Press has been prostt-
tuted to base partisan uses. Instead Of
giving to the general public, newspaper
readers of every shade of politics, unbiased
information, regardless of party interest or
the favor and disfavor of party leaders, we
are compelled to patronize an agency for
the collection and distribution of news
almost q monopoly, mind you-which
stands convicted not only of neglect of duty
but criminal perversion of the truth.