Blount County democrat. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1879-1883, 1882-07-29
From the Gallatin Examiner

i IOIl W Nilub We tdl SCC llOlH lIC
tone and temper of the times, we look
forward with regret, TO a general
opening of the flood gates of SANDER
and detraction in the coming politi-
cal campaign. We had hoped other
wise, but are disappointed. The fight
will be upon very low plane, if not
by the chiefs, by many subordinates !;
who can never rise TO the dignity of
honorable warfare. Instead Of fair
and temperate discussion Of points of
personal detraction and SANDER.
Just now the principal "slop" of
many Of the newspapers consists of
such phrases as "arch traitors"
"railroad lawyers" "venal press"
Htcn cent Tailroaders," etc. We have
no special defence of the lawyers, for
as a class they can usually take care
ofthemsclves. 1t was notable fact
two years ago that about nincty-nine
out ofonc hundred Of them were upon
the State credit side. 1t would not
be far from the exact truth TO say
that scarcely respectable lawyer in
Tennessee, excepting he was candi-
date himself was upon the low tax
side. Their trained minds at once
recognized the liability of the State
for its bonded debt. The Readiustcr
Convention has added a few more re-
spectacle lawyers who adhered to the
organization from a sense of party
duty, but even now there are but few
who are not on the State Credit side,
and will continue to be. But in doing
so they will have TO encounter the
"slop" that will be dashed at them in
the offensive cpitbet of "railroad law
ycrs"-although not one in hundred
of them eyer fingered 3 fee from a
RAILROAD or eyer viii LaYe q CHANCE.
Railroads have BECOME so import
ant factor in the business Of the
country that it is not to be wondered
at that they get into the courts as often
as any other parties who have COM
mercial transactions. Travellers and
employees get killed and suits for
damages are brought; struggling
stock get run over or arc injured or
killed in transit. Differences neces-
sarily arise in a vast business Of mil
lions of dollars amid as many con-
tracts. it does not appear that rail
roads gel into courts any more than
individuals pursuing other occupa-
tions, in proportion. AS matter of
course railroad companies employ
the best talent at the bar that they can
get, and they should, if they act wise
". We can find 10 wrong in this.
And, we doubt not, that any lawyer
in the State who was offered fee
would readily take it, and without
any idea that he had sold his political
opinion.
And tho press comes in for its share
OF abuse. They who advocate the
payment of the State debt are slam.
dered and the slanders know it when
they are charged with venality. All
this is done in the name Of truth when
| it is known to be a lie out Of the
whole cloth. It's unworthy ola high
profession when its members foul
their own nest, vituperatc their own
guild by such base words. They be.
| little their craft III insingations that
this OF thai paper'is the ''organp of so
and so, and follows his DIRECTIONS,
when an honest pride should rather
say that the press is its own master
and makes and shapes others to its
will. The party newspaper has in
deed sunk very low when it thus
scattcrs its filthy venom upon its
brethren. 1t has become itself an
outcast from all honorable associa-
tons,