The bee., 1883-01-06
OUR REVIEW.

WILLIAM E. MATTHEWS ESSAY AMI,
THE RECENT AssAULT-TnE POSI-
TION OF THE BEE-ARE WE BRTBEp
OR ARE WE JUsT?-THE GAPING
PUBLIC-SHALL WE BE PARTY TO
SENSATIONAL RUMoRs ?-WE'LL BE
JUST AND FEAR NoT-TINE FOR
NINDICATIoE.
The city of magnificent distances" :"
Of which the people of Washington are
proud, and its society, Of which there
is no equal. has been abused by the ma
lignant and prejudiced. Because the
BEE refused to become party to So
cial scandal, the verdict is that wehaye
been bribed Never before in the his
tory of our journalistic experience has
there ever been such charge made
against us. We generally do our own
thinking and writing, and what ap-
pears in the columns of the BEE the
editor is responsible for. We have not
felt disposed To enter hastily into
sensational scandal and condemn those
who have been made the subject of
Far be it from the intention of the
managers of the BEE to devote this
journal 10 no other mission than inius-
tlce and unfalrneSS in matters Of public
Importance. We want it distinctly
understood that we shall moi be party
tosocial scandals to satisfy preiudiced
class and gaping" community. We
have made a review of the charges
against Mr.. w. X. Matthews, and we
find that there is a great deal Of preju-
dice against him, and because the BEE
declines to become party to the vim
dctiveneSS and preiudices of a few
evll-minded persons, we are condemned
and charged with being bribed.
BE it SO. We don't exist by the
likes and dislikes of this gaping COM
munity. If Mr.. Matthews is guilty of
The charges alleged against him, we
know from personal knowledge that
there are grounds for a reasonable
doubt. Those who know us will tes-
tlfy that we have time and again re-
fllSed bribes when we have opposed
measures greater than this recent scam
dal.
ntll we are further convinced of the
quit OF the parties who are involved
W Tins scandal we shall make no con-
dennation on a doubt. We candidlv
ask the public would it be Just, reason
ahle or fair for us to condemn persons
oa erp0rte evidence? We shall be Just, |
reasonable and fair, and await further !
'oNrlopmentS in the charges made |
against Mr. Matthews. Upon what |
mas the preindiced based their belief? |
pom wild rumors and circumstantial !
evidence. The evil-minded NAV pub |
h'h and condemn them, because they
are opposed to the poor, and ostracise
acertaln class socially.
We shall condemn men. measures
ana things when we have a just cause;
h'll we don't propose to condemn a man
SIMPLY because he refuses TO recognize |
some people. We don't ask for recog- |
h!llon from those who are opposed to |
u" And, furthermore, we shall not be |
party to corrupt measures, but until !
we care justified in condemning the ac-
,lon OF a recent abuse, we shall with |
hold Tor time, and let the matter be |
more developed.
When it, was known that public |
SCHOOL TEACHERS,
as teachers were involved in the scan
aal, and when the gaping" public de- !
nlahded an exposition the BEE !
remained silent, and the verdict was |
the BEE was bribed. We remember, !
oolhe years ago, when certain ladies [
were involved in a scandal, this same |
public demanded that we should expose |
.lc matter, and when we gave notice
.llat we would give the names of fif-
,eFh' the cry of condemnation was
peafd throughout the land. We were |
apld up to public derision and hurled /
llolll the "topmost rounds of our popu-
i9tltE and received the ostracism of .
eue public and society. We don't care
ioF society when it refuses to Spect |
i'9elI we shall condemn the social |
"pFessorS when they refuse to uphold .
we morals of this community in the /
tlSe cf