The Portland daily press., 1876-04-11
Our New York Letter.
Mr.. Dana's Rejection an Achievements OF
the eNewspapcrs-Tho FIipunuev and sm.
poriance of Newspaper Criiicism-An
illustration OF Democratic sta,e.mau.
ship-Presidential Candidates.

ulum. WIN that calm assurance which Ia so
thoroughly characteristic of the profession the
editors took the matter in hand precisely as
they assume to regulate and direct all the
affairs of state, and they soon made wreck of
Mr.. Dana's chances. He helped the thing
along by rushing into print. 1t may have been
all very well for him to write letter to one of
the Massachusetts, senators, but that he should
publish it before it was sent was an act by no
means calculated to impress the Senate with
favorable opinion of his diplomatic qualities.
And then, to make matters worse, the news
paper men, not content with commending the
nomination, which was entirely proper and
seemly, must needs threaten and bully the
Senate, proceeding that naturally provoked
the indignation and disgust of the Republicans
and Democrats in that body and rendered the
confirmation impossible.
1t is hardly worth while to speculate upon
the probable results which would flow from
passing over the administration of the govern
ment to the press, as there are constitutional
obstacles to such consummation which ara
insuperable. The constitution has confided
these functions to the Executive and the two
houses of Congress. Yet in spite of this or
ganic law, the journalists Of the country man
fully deem it their prerosative to take care of
all these matters. If they islmply conte nted
themselves with offering advice and sugges-
tions In decorous and respectful language, Il
would be all well enough, but ordinarily they
issue their commands in terms so peremptory
and offensive that a plantation overseer would
be ashamed of them.
The fippant and impertinent tone of current
criticism in respect to the highest legislative
assembly of the nation is an affront to common
decency. The members of that house, inde-
pendently of their high station, are, with now
and then possible exception, gentlemen Of
education and culture. Most of them have
reached their present elevation by the display
of eminent abilities in other spheres of private
or public duty. There is no reason for suppos-
ing that they are less conscientious, upright or
patriotic than the average of their fellow citi-
zens. On the contrary it is natural inference
that they excel in those attributes, otherwise
they could not have attained political honors
so high that they are the eager quest of honor
able ambition. The deliberations Of the cham
Der are as general rule remarkably dignified
and courteous, and the conduct of the Senators
individually and collectively is circumspect and
irreproachable.
Nevertheless it is the commonest thing in the
world to find in newspapers of wide circulation
insolent insinuations or coarse lampoons d.
rected against many of the ablest and purest
members of this august council of the Repub-
lie. Their acts are misrepresented, their mo-
tives impugned, their record talsffied with an
effrontery which could not be practced in any
community. civilized or savage, which had not
become habituated to, and demoralzed BY, nox-
ious clamor and vulgar ribaldry. If any one of
these seventy-four Senators were to perpetrate
during his six years term single act as viola
tive either of truth or of propriety as these ed
itorial censors practice almost daily, he would
be expelled from his seat. With no higher stan.
dard of morals than that which prevails in
newspaper circles the government would crum-
BILE to pieces. Its real foundation is the faith of
the people, and that would be forfeited wholly
If it were put to such a test
There is no doubt a great many of the strict
ures upon public men which are so rife originate
in thoughtlessness. 1t would be too serious
reflection upon human nature TO assume that
they were all inspired by malice. Bad habits
ares infectious, and when certain prominent
prints set the fashion of reckiessness of state
ment and rudeness of tenor, their evil example
is apt to find numerous inadvertent imitators.
But it is high time wholesome public senti-
ment should be directed to the exposure and
excoriation of the vice. Everybody reads the
papers, and if they are rapidly becoming impo-
tent for good, they still retain a prodigious
capacity for mischief.
The right to discuss an executive nomination
temperately and decorously is indisputable.
1t is the legitimate province of publicists to
express their opinions freely on such subjects.
But to do this in vituperative aud declama-
tory spirit is simply to destroy the effect of the
performance. Senators are presumed to act
upon their oaths, and it must be conceded that
their knowledge of the facts is superior to that
of the general public. Nominations are con-
sidered in secret session, and until the iDjunc-
ton of secrecy is removed the causes which
may have induced confirmation or rejection
are matters of conjecture rather than certainty.
1 regretted extremely that Mr.. Danas appoint
ment was not approved by the Senate, but un-
til the reason why can be ascertained, 1t seems
to me to be in excessively bad taste to assail
those who prevented it, with abusive epithets
1t is quite as Objectionable to furnish list Of
affirmative and negative votes, for that is at
best mere guess work. The name of our Re
publican Senator was paraded in this way By
hostile sheet, although it is difficult to COM
prehend how any body, possessing ordinary
means of obtaining information in respect to
movements at the Capitol could have made any
mistake about his friendliness to the con6rma-
tion. Taken in connection with antecedent
Misrepresentation of the same party in the
same quarter, the inference is justifiable that
the error was Intentional. That Is one of the
exceptional privileges of the press. II the
facts do not conform to their theories they
must be set aside. No ethical limitations are
permitted to restrain the soaring fancy of the
man who illuminates the popular mind
from the editorial tripod. If his averments are
oontradioted. he simply responds with vehe-
ment iterations of the original fabrication.
The country has had an impressive opportun-
ity to observe the height, and depth and
breadth of Democratic statesmanship in the re-
cent cutting off of the appropriation for light
and fuel for the public offices In Washington
and the principal cities of the Union. Our
grand new Post Office is unswept because there
is no money to pay the sweepers, and would
not be supplied with gas, If the parties who
furnish it had not consented to give the gov
ernment credit until the means could be fur
uished to remedy the deficiency. If this is the
consequence of giving the opposition sway in
one branch of Congress what would happen if
they had all three? That is question the peo-
pie will be called upon to answer next Novem-
Der at the ballot box.
The roll of Republican candidates for the
Cincinnati nomination is narrowing as the
time for action approaches. There are really
but two whose chances at this moment are
worth calculating One Of them Is from your
State and the other from ours. Merton labors
under such disadvantages, both because OF his
physical disability and his somewhat cratic f.
nancial record, that 1t is scarcely possible for
him to command the requisite support. Mr..
Brstow is a favorite among those who know
him. His fine presence and efficient admins
tration Of the Treasury Department give him
considerable prestige. But the geographical
objection in his case is one that will almost GER
tainly prove fatal to his chances. No man will