National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-15
Concerning SCREAMING.

/ De less temptation Tor mere noise. But
one hears so much screaming, with so
little sense, and sees such bewildermeEt
of mind depicted on the countenances of
the multitude, that to join in the struggle
to arrest the general attention is but
yielding to the infection of the time. If
one has an idea, or if he thinks he has
which is just as bad, he wishes to impart
it. He takes his tablet and pencil and
commences to write. Then comes to his
mind the terrible thought: Who will
read? The newsboys under his window
are screaming six or eight daily papers
in tones which show a desperate en-
deavor on the part of each boy to attract
the attention of the passers-by, to the ex-
clusion of his rivals in trade. Buy these
papers and you will see the same
idea carried out in their columns.
The big, blaek-lined headings of the tele-
graphic columns are screams. They
create tendency TO pain in the head, as
do those faces of screaming choristers by
Hogarth. The news itself is dealt out
with vehemence and style of ex-
aggeration which gives it the general
tone of war-whoop. The slightest fact
is given in mass of words totally unpro-
portioned to its consequence, and uncon-
sidered trifies are made to do duty as
events Of great importance because there
is nothing better worthy of record. The
editorial page is also found to be pitched
in the highest key. The desperate
scream which might be used to arouse
a sleeping nation to realiza-
ton of some dire and imminent
calamity is habitually indulged in to
acquaint the public with some alleged
larceny, which, if proven, would be en-
titled to four lines under the appropriate
heading of The Courts" If Govern
ment official can be justly or unjustly as
sailed upon any ground whatever the
public appetite is whetted by dark and
mysterious givings-out, followed by loud
and sonorous blasts of accusation, and
theuceforward there shall be general
chorus Of ebiurgation, while competing
telegraph lines and Bullock presses
shower the land with the glad news that
victim has been found, and that over
and above all other human affairs the
smoke of his torment shall ascend until
popular safety demands change of vic
TINS. The screamers have created a pub
lie taste for scandal, noise, and excite
ment. and then catered to it much as a
bartender has herring at the end of his
bar to provoke the thirst which it is his
profitable business to quench.
Even THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN may
sometimes have fallen into the way of
struggling with the rest for the attention
ofthe rushing and excited throng, and to
have now and then struck KEY too high
for the profitable consideration of the
subject in question. If writers could al
ways realize that those who must be
shouted at are not worth shouting TO they
might beget temperance which would
add force to what is said for intelligent
listeners.
And now. having perhaps the atten-
ton of a dozen or so of thoughtful per-
sons, we ask them to quietly consider
a current of rational public
opinion cannot be made possible on all
public questions. The madding crowd |
viii Of course continue to heed the cries |
given out by the blatant trumpeters of
contrived falsehood. Eager multitudes |
will press on to view the contortions of |
the men who are to be hanged, |
and other and greater multitudes
will feed their love of cruelty by |
levouring the lying sensations of a
press managed for their delectation. |
But, despite the senseless clamor and din
which we have alluded to, and which
seems to carry all before it, there is a
great undertow Of common sense which |
demands to know the reason why. And |
when the screaming abates, because the
;creamers are weary or because the pub
ic ear is dulled by custom to the blows
IF sound, there comes the inquiry, What
vas the noise about, and where is the
'how to which it invited us ?"
The savage assaults upon public men
md private citizens which have been
made during the past sixty days by two or
,hree detectives employed by the Post
Office Department and the Department
If Justice q, and which still continue, are
If the highest pitch Of the screaming art.
Gibson and Woodward are adopts at their
and they use some of the press
as effectively for the pur-
,ose of creating horrible noises as bad
title boys use their tin trumpets at Christ
mas times. This orchestral prelude must
nd some time. The actors must sooner
II later " leave their damnable faces and
,egin." The law, which is no mans
nemy, sits waiting to sift the true from
he false. 1t will not be swayed by
lamor nor order that any unofending
itizen be butchered to make public
Holiday. 1t will discriminate between
he evidence which is genuine and the
erjury which is suborned. 1t will punish
he guilty, whether they be the accused
r the accusers. And, above all things,
will not be predisposed in favor of ,
hose who seek to inflame the populace 3;
'efore they have endeavored to convince
he courts.
The instrumentalities employed by the :
and the Postmaster 1
General have not been reputable or de-
ent, as both those officials well know
hey were employed to do the screaming,
nd they have done their work WELL ,,
hat they will bring the Administration
nto great disrepute at the end we firmly /
elieve.
Hello!
Mail service has been ordered on the North | i;
aci1c Railroad west TO the Little Missouri, COM :
encing June l5. This cuts off about one-half of :
10 raruucitaS nf the Star routa hatraau RismsrcL-