National Republican., 1878-07-01
THE ACKLEN SCANDAL.

rs to that Of his friends and Of the lady in
question and her admiring friends. The
way in which the thing was done ought to
satisfy all concerned, except, perhaps, that
if the certificates which verified the truth
of the statements made by way of vindica-
tion and the truthfulncss of the vindicators
had rs well been signed by JAMES Z. An
DERsoN il might have been made a trihe
stronger. But as II is, IL is probably strong
enough for all practical purposes, and espc-
cially with all not possessed Of too inquir-
ing turn Of mind.
1t is gratifying for the sake Of our na-
tional reputation, for the future prospects
of a statesman who holds o seat in Congress
that legally and rightfully belongs to an
other, for the sake of the lady who incau-
tiously visited fashionable cafe TO enjoy
the luxury Of RoDERER trdppe at rather
late hour In the evening, or at least in vio-
lation Of the eight-hour law, rs appears by
the vindicating proofs, and for the sake of
good morals and the peace and welfare Of
society, that this exciting question is settled
SO satisfactorily to those pre-cminently in
terested. We hope, now that this tempest
has spent itself, that oil gossippers will
learn hereafter to dry up, or If they must
uncork, that they will sweeten their scan
dalous beverages with larger introduction
OF the sugar of truth and not in the future
betray the innocent and unsuspecting press
into such wild and unsavory statements as
have been published all over the country
relating to the ACKLEN affair.
As this matter, In all its aspects, looks to
us, the only way hereafter that the press
can save itself from the modification of
making false statements, to the annoyan
OF innocent parties, is to organize an audit
ing news board, which shall examine, look
into, investigate, and pass upon the budget
of the news-mongers' scandal when 1t shall
be presented; or when one of this class fur
nishes contraband article of news, how
ever rich in appearance or highly desired
for circulation, the auditing board should
look him square in the eye, and il he winks
or shows signs Of quailing, it should order
him to be shot at once, and thus interrupt
and in time break up this branch Of contra
band trade in the news market.
Whether for the reason that The Ma
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN is more enterprsing
or is more shining mark we will not VEN
ture IN opinion, but for some reason IL is
the only journal referred to by Mr.. AcKLEN
in fixing the responsibility Of the late scan
dal. This perhaps renders it proper that
we should rise and explain. Up TO the
time that the Star published its statement
Of what had transpired in the scandal line,
without giving names or much details we
were oblivious OF the fact that the moral
atmosphere of Washington was at all ex-
posed to storm Of such magnitude and
fury as has swept over it. There was just
enough of the Stars intimation to whct
the appetite of the scandal-mongers
and make them eager for more. By the
evening of that day the very ali
ling outnges upon social propriety and
good morals Indeed, the scandal market
was glutted, and THE REPUBLICAN report
ers set themselves at work to run down the
truth and get at the bottom facts, il such q
thing was possible. They were vigilant bu
cautious, brave but discreet, entcrprisins
with desire to be just, determined I,
nothing extenuate or set down aught il
malice" and out they sailed, one in pur
suit Of General RossER, TO learn the steri
facts, as he had been alluded TO as the her
of the occasion, another to find Mr.. ACKLEN
| a Al, nf .I, Ia .f L..
mors that filled the air, and to secure from
him, il possible, a true version OF the affair
for we had no desire or purpose to max,
any statements that were not fully justified
by the facts. Unfortunately for our pur
pose, General RossER and Mr.. ACKLEN ha,
both left town Immediately after the atiai
occurred, and hence the one could not cna
BILE us to vindicate the truth of history, no
could the other aid us in yindicating him
self Here was o dilemma. The GOSSIP
mongers were Just gushing with knowledg,
and we could have filled u page Of The RI
PUBLICAN with statements that would no
only have startled but have horriied tn
moral sense Of the community. This W
did not desire TO do and hence, when ou
vigilant aud enterprising reporters came il
laden with the honey they had sucke
from each blossoming gossip, we boiled tn
whole thing down and administered it in
: reduced quantity, and as near the rea! iac
: as could then be ascertained If we VEL
betrayed into any injustice to the part
involved we regret it quite as much as tIC
> can, for we had no motive or purpose OIL il
: terest in representing them falsely beio
the public eye, nor is such course consis
ent with our ideas of respectable journa
ism. But 1t is homcly saying that "if v
"live in Turkey we must do rs the Turke.
v "do," and hence we were not to be outdou
I upon that occasion in newspaper enterpris
l This is how 1t happened, and it is grati,
;, ing TO know that we have aided in the wol
Of vindtcation.
4 Hos. q. L. FORT has consented to be a en-
= didnte for q third term In Congress from Il
eighth district Of Illinois, and the Chica
Journal predicts that he will be "rcnominat'