The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-25
The People want Facts.

A considerable interest is being manifested
in some quarters over the attitude of party
newspapers in gathering and publishing po-
lfical news. 1t is the custom of great
many, if not the majority, of partizan papers
to publish only reports which favor their
own side, to magaify the crowds at certain
meetings and diminish the crowds at others,
to glorify the speakers at the meetings of q
contrary fsitb.
A Democratic paper is expected to report a
Democratic mass-m ae.ing, agrand and glo-
rious affair."" an outpouring of the Masses;
0the most sublime orator ever HEARD deaien-
ing applause" etc, aud to describe Green
back or Republican meeting as a miserable
old hzzle," a beggarly score or two of rat and
tan present" three fourths of the crowd
Democra g" "the speakers shoot off
their mouths" "the audieace dis
gusted, etc." They are accustomed or ex-
pected to distort facts in all accounts of their
party, and the brilliancy of this kind of jour
nalism depends on the power to exaggerate
ones own party and Selittle that Of the other.
1t il this species OF journalism which is be-
ing questioned. There are number Of in
dependent papers, even partizan papers,
which in their reports deal with facts alone,
and it is q species of journalism which is
growing in favor. The popular style of dis
tortng facts has its advantages. The game
of bluff has an influence in campaign. An
enthusiasm, even\ though manufac-
tured, has influence in a campaign
and this style Of journalism, both
bluffs the irresolute and creates enthusiasm.
But these advantages are more than counter
balanced by other disadvantages now that tn
reading of all sorts of newspapers has be-
come So general. When men took only one
paper the old jourp ism was potent, but now
it becomes self-contradictory, and the paper
which distorts It's facts for partizan purposes
finds the confidence OF It's readers shaken in
its opinions and deductions The boy who
cried "wolf!" "wolfm for the sake of excite.
ment, was eventually eaten by awolf because
his falsehood on several occasions had shaken
the confidence Of his neighbors in his truth
on any occasion, and the paper which per-
si:tently excites false hopes and false enthusi-
asu. will find itself helpless to excite real
hope and real enthusiasm when they
are needed. The absurdity Of this journal.
ism may readily be seeL, for if it is
true journalism to lie reportorially it
must be equally duty to lie editorially, and
what could more etfectuslly destroy the in
fuence of the press than to make it an engine
of falsehnol |. The truth is, this style Of
Journalism is becoming unpopular with the
mass of readers, who are hundred per cent.
better informed than is generally imagined,
and this accounts for the fact t! at the indie
pendent newspapers are the MIST prosperous,
Among those papers, and some partisan pa
per:, it is a standing rule of the office tn It
the reporters are TO give, on all occasions, the
exact truth, and the people read their own
papers to feel good, but subscribe for such
uutrammeled papers to get facts. 1t is
rapidly dawnng on the comprehension of
newspaper men that candor, boldness and
scrupuous truth are, next to good press,
the three most essential things to success,
and this discovery is having agood effect on
newspapers.-[ Waco Examiner.