Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-02-18
Prostitution of the Press for Political
Purposes.

purposes.
The press has become, to great extent, the
chief educator Of the people II is found in
almost every home throughout the country.
convey ing the latest public Information and
disseminating the studied opinions Of editors
upon every new subject Of general interest
The people rely upon it for truthful statements
OF current events being guided by it ia their
interchange OF ideas upon the general topics
OF conversation. Therefore il is extremely
necessary and Of the utmost importance tina,
the press should be guarded with u wntchtul
eye that it may not for bnsely selfish pnr-
poses become the medium of wilful misslate-
ments and ntrocious fasehoods In The frst
place, because such widely scattered informa-
hon, false and fabricated, would be produe.
tive of a universally pernicious effect in
creating erroneous impressions and opinions
upon the minds Of readers and misleading pub
lie sentiment. In the second place, because
when time reveals the counterfeit nature of
these Misrepresentation, IL will produce dis
trust OF the veracitv OF the press and bring il
in such disrepute that its usefulness will per
ish In The third place, because these mali
cious attacks upon men and principles fire.
quenily injure Tive most deserving regulations
for honesty aud hilhruncss and undermine
the most per ect and well-ndnpted designs for
the public veal
!, is n well-known fact that too frequently
villains unite themselves with organizations
Instituted Tor the purpose of moral culture
10 screen their depraviiy with honest livery
that they may be secure from II too vaichfuI
suspicion while they execute their infamous
and netatious schemes But when their liver,
is thrown aside and they appear, Ms the ac-
complislmeni Of their design unfolds itself, in
TIE execrable character OF their true nature.
the odium of righteous indignation should
" exiled from fellowship with honest men
30 ii is with the press; too frequently are
some OF its avenues for the conveyauce of pub
lac Information under The control of uuprinci-
pred guardians who use them for bnse pnr.
poses in transmitting malicious fnbricaiious
for the diversion Of popular sentiment which
will finally resul, benefrin.y to Themselves.
The most striking instance of this tact that we
have ever witnessed is illustrated in the uu-
founded charges which have lately been pub
llshed by certain newspapers OF this State in
regard TO the management OF the C. & q
Canal by its present faithful board Of officials
These papers during the late compaign were
busy in circulating these baseless charges and
asserting that they were founded upon sub
s'anlial fact, the undeniable evidence o: which
was In their possession Attack followed at
tack in quick succession these papers were
rapidly moulding public sentiment TO suit
their purposes and inure to the political ad-
vantage of certain individuals. Upon every
hand in political conversations could Le heard
pigmy politicians and even some of the Coli
aihs OF Western Mary land ecbuing these
charges and declaring thai vast frauds such
No never Ind been dreamed oil, were being pcr-
perated by the officials OF the canal, who were
lluing their pockets with gold at the people,
expense. These false impressions were rapid
ly being created in almost every mind aud
were obtaining general credence; but they
have AL last appeared in their true character
brought before an investigating committee and
there, under oath, were questioned as to their
truthiulness aud they we're compelled TO admit
thai they could not produce proof 10 sustain
them. This would have been sufficient to
clear away the vile impunlons cast upon The
canal board, but many witnesses Of unm.
peachable verarity were examined, whose tes-
tmony not only completely established the
falslty of the charges, but actually proved thai
the canal WAS being conducted with more
benefit TO The State than ever before And
yet some OF these papers are still after the
sworn testimony Of their editors that they pos
sessed no proof OF the truthfuuess of their
statements reiteraling those charges Others
have judiciously changed managers, who, il
they are uDprnciped enough 10 repeat these
hlsehoods, are yet wise enough to maintain
silence
Those who have the purity of the press at
heart, and who desire the preservation OF lis
reputation for veHciiv, without which il will
surely die, will visit this prostitution of it for
political purposes with the odiun which it de-
serves.
GuRERN ATopIAL EnSrparRn Et rcrtoN n,