New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-11
NETSPAPERS IND TIE PITY.

HThe newspapers did It" say angry Stall
warts. No, smpetons, you did 1t yourselves.
The newspapers merely informed people what
YOU were doing, and the people have expressed
their opinion about it.
The strongest proof yet given of the phe-
nomenal incompetence of Stalwart managers
was the selection of the late Mr.. Carroll in
order to make the newspapers better pleased
with the ticket.n The very fact that one news
paper did seem better pleased because one
particularly unfit person had been selected from
lis staff. and by the same unworthy influence
that the paper had previously condemned with
heat, served to deprive that journal of all in
luence in commenting the ticket. When will
cheap politicians learn that newspapers have
strength only in proportion as they represent
the people? If they conceal facts or falsely
report them, they lose influence because the
people discover it. If they report facts, but Put
a false Interpretation upon them, intelligent
readers hear other interpretations also. judge
which is the true one, and withdraw confidence
from papers that try TO misead them. If the
newspapers rail at man or party without
cause or argue against either without reason,
the people Lave sense enough to detect specious
fallacy and to resent unwarranted abuse. The
trouble with the Stalwart is that he considers
the people fools. Otherwise he would not try
to set up boss over the people by Stalwart
methods.
When Mr. Arthur cleared out of his Cabinet
the trusted advisers Of General Garfield, in
order to put in set of political cOrpses Of his
own faction whom the people had condemned
and discarded, he thought the people fools
and imagined that the gradual change would
not be understood. When he placed his Ex-
ccutive power at the disposal of yindctiye
bosses in New-York and Pennsylvania, he con-
sidered the people SO great fools as to be de-
ceiyed by Mr.. ButterwOrth's tricky assertion
that there had been few "removals" When
he leagued with clique Of revengeful pol
iticians and SPECTATORS to defeat Governor Cor
nell, ard employed a worthless set OF political
tricksters to make ticket for New-York Re
publicans, he thought the people fools, and
imagined that voters would blindly indOrse such
a bargain and Tatfy nominations thus forced
upon them. When Mr.. Smyth allowed him
self to be cxhumed from dishonOred political
grave to take charge of a State canvass. he
thought the people fools enough to forget all
the past. SO at every step i'll this and other
States, the Stalwarts have acted upon the
theory that shallow tricks ana shameless
frauds would suffice to fastcn upon intelligent
voters the domination Of a faction which they
had deliberately condemned and expelled from
Office.
Many Republican Congressman have fallen
into the same fatal notion. When they refused
to protect the country against the enormous
frauds of tie Pension-arrears act and passed
without debate an outrageous River and
Harbor bill, they showed an absolute contempt
for the will of the people whose hired servants
they were. Even when they knew that public
indignation would be quickly expressed they
rushed through the River and IIarlor bill in
one day, expressly in order to get it beyond
recall before the press Cf the country could be
heard. Did it pay Mr. Page, of California,
led this business, and after five successive
elections, having over 3, 900 majority two years
ago. is beaten. Mr.. RobesOn was leader of the
House, with about 3, 800 majority behind him.
and vet Joined with two Democratic plunderers
from New-Jersey, Ross and Harris, to pass an
Mr. Robson in a Republican stronghold, and
Mrssrs Ross and Harris il Democratic strong
holds. VIII not politicians learn in time that
the people have some sense and some will of
their own7
Newspapers that are worth anything gain
their support by representing the pablo will.
When they do so enormously or falsely, they
have to suffer FOR it. They cannot get away to
Washington. and there form mutual admiration