Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-31
Aletanoria Q6axettc
THURSDAY. MAY 81, 1877.
Professional Newspaper Correspond
rN1S.

Mr.. Washinltou, the Washington c,rres
pondcnt of the l. >uisvi,Ic Courier ourna, says:
Washington correspondents are not one, but
many, and very divers. They are cmphati'
cay "aIl sorts and conditions Of man.' Oao
is seedy and another is rich; Que fashionable,
apother sloven; Que lazy, another industrious;
one bright, thoughtful experienced, aIo;hHr
stupid aud ignorant; one will pick your pocket,
and another will treat you ialry, elough he
may not fatter you. Like any other class 0!
men, they have their black sheep and their
white sheep. There arc number Of the latter
sort, with whom, if you choose, you can get
along very we'll. You can lind them out by
taking ordinary pains. They have lives, prlu
eiples and associations, to put 1t mildly quite
as clean as yours, and enjoy, perhaps, social
position that some politicians DOW out Of Office
might be happy to fall back on. These men
will not quarrel with you, unless you force 1t by
hostility or something unworthy winch We vii!
not anticipate. Their Interests and your own
interests ought to harnonza. The great pa
pGrs which they represent are deeply Interested
in getting accurate and early Intelligence oi the
action and policy Of the government. his IL
popular government, and the people want to
kuoW what their government IL doing, has done
and is going to do. The highest interest the
correspondent, even when he differs with you
politically, or may disapprovc Of your partlcu'
lar liuc oil action, is to state your action or
policy with the utmost truth, fairness and pre-
cision, not using your talk TO your injury, but
leaving, as a general rule, The comment to bt
made by the editor Of the paper and ts read
ers. What more do you desire than this II
you are acting from good motives, and, as
you think, wisely, this Is just what You
want. Rely upon it, that with this class
Of correspondents whatever sou say will be
faithfully stated, aud 10 more stated than
you authorize. If he goes beyond this hc
will be more the sufferer than yourself. lhH
injury from your resentment is probably con
siderable injury, but even tins Is secondary 10
his loss ut prestige ~ u correspondent lie
can az little atfori 10 blundcr aud be con
ed a. Yourself. need not pursue this
farther.
admit that there are correspondents, ani
far TOO many of them, with wh0m you arc hard
ly safe. They invent news, state rumora a5
facts, tabriclta conversations and lutcrvIc"S.
and are ever on III" quest inr new sensaIion.
1t is as easy to find out this class OF PERSONS a
to find scabby politicians, and Indeed, easier
for their work is published from day 80 day,
and you can rsaI their characters IN Ih2ir dI'-
As we do
This is 10 royal road 10 SaIcucc, but i, J!
wcll-bcatrn and safe path, gentlemen. You
don believe in IN orgAu; lhe Republic hiss out,
grown thar sort of thing, aud 4 mclc otllcIa
bulletin Of the s.. Petersburg Of Coustabl-
nopc pattern would nor serve your taru. The
suggcsrIun Of lockiog your doors and shutting
yourselves up is prcpostcrou:. Inc danger oi
IN official gertug in!o the russ ani grooves anh
hcariug only one set Of facts is 20 great that
4 wise Eastern ruler in old times disguised him,
self and pcr4mbulatod the streets aud squattrd
in the coffee houses SO as to hear little Tree
and healthy criticism, and fad out what was
going 90. You arc more fortunate than ne,
ccntIcmcn, for all you have to do IS to keep
up your COMMUNICATIONS with the public prcss.
There the blood and thought 0l the country
courses as in an artery, and The more often you
feel it the better iJr you in the end. These
same Journals tell US OF n toad that got somehow
into rock aud fingered there alive aud lmrer
vious TO public opinion Tor i've hlndrcd years
or more. This example you must ht careful
uni I'm initiate