New-York tribune., 1878-04-19

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JYTERTIEWS
For the second time within a few months
Senator Conklmg has been made the victim
of literary fraud. Once in The HeTGld, and
Yesterday in The Worid, he was represented
a. cOnfding his opinions on current politics,
on the character and purposes Of the Presi-
dent. on thc conduct of the Administration,
and on the personal pcculiarities and disposi-
tious Of various pubic men, to a newspaper
reporter armed with pencil and notebook,
and pTodestined to put all his remarks into
pint. In each ease the representation was
talschood. That the Senator has SAID. at va
rious times and to various persons, the sub
stance of some OF the things attributed to him
in these fictitious interviews, is probably true;
that hc said al he is reported as saying, Is
almost certainly not true, and il Is doubtful
whether he said anything in the precise Ian
guage that is put into his mouth. Mr. Conk-
ling is quite justified IN calling such a pre-
tended interview ~ gross misrcpre
even if it happens to reflect some of his
opinions.
The private sentiments and dinner-table
conversations of prominent politicians are Of
no consequence 10 the public. In all parties
there are distinguished men who dislike their
official leaders, doubt their sincerity and good
sense, and believe that the policy which pre-
walls in the party councils is Infamous and
dc trucfye. How many good Democrats curse
Mr. Tildcn every day of their lives, and de-
u0mccd hm roUHdly in private talk all the
winnie they were cauyassiug for his election,
or schcmug TO have him counted in, or bar
gaining for che purchase OF AN Oregon clectori
How many straight Administration Ecpubli
cans used 10 talk in the same way about
President Grant! Domestic chickering's are to
be expected, and as "a rule they do no harm
.o long as they are not conducted in public.
What Mr. Couklug may say about Prcsl
dent Hayes in those moments Of con-
hlcncc and relaxation when he "draws
"hi, chair mp 70 the register in the chilly
evening" and "pacgs an mlightcd cigar
"in his mouth 20 chew upon," is Il matter OF
little moment 10 the mass of mankind. But
If hc makes deliberate proclamation Of his
sentiments through thc agency of the press,
then his talk ceases to be gossip, and becomes
political demonstration OF considerable sig
niGcance. And. therefore, We say that the
publication OF scraps of private gossip in the
disguise of a formal "iu,cryiew' is a fraud
and an outrage.
We do not suppose for Il moment that The
HeyaH and The IIorid were parties to the de-
cep,iou pmcti,cd upon their readers IT is i'm
possible for any newspaper to protect itself
wholly against the irregular operations of n
class of literary Adventures who hang on the
hauks Of journalism; and in these cases the
"intcrvicwsn were 80 artfully cOncOcted
aud contained 50 much truth, that the most
cautious of editors might be excused for ac
ccpting them as real. All professions have
their doubtful practitioners, and the news
papers, perhaps, are not more plagued
by irresponsible followers than the bar,
the medical calling and the church.
When the decent journalist, who lives
and works like a gentleman, is forced to
blush for the dsreputable scribblcr who earns
few dollars by picking up private Conversations
pecpng at .keyhOlcS, and selling secrets, he
may console himself with the recollection that
there are mean men in every avOcatiOn. The
license of the press after all is not so bad as
it used to be and the abuses of the inter-
viewer especially seem to have provoked
reaction against sort OF indecency which
few years ago was almost fashionable True
this recent Conkling performance shows that
there are reporters still who will insnuate
themselves into a mans diningroom. listen
with erect ears to the conversation
dress it up with an abundance of hearsay
conjecture, and sensational language of their
own, and then publish it. not only without the
consent of the victim but in defiance of his
express prohibition. The manufacturer of
y. & Il
ling that he had made it and meant to pub
lish it to which the enator replied: "YOur
letter greatly surprises me. The CONVERSE
tions were all IN confidence. cannot con-
sent to their violation" And to this the
man made the amazing answer that he would
not be dictated to! We do not remember
many worse cases than this. But the general
surprise which follows it shows that journal
lists who disgrace themselves by a violation of
the common decencies of life are happily