The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-27
The Northern Ok Gored.

The New York journal Of Commerce,
the leading commercial and one OF the
most conservative papers in the North,
devotcs considerable editorial space 10
paying its compliments to a certain class OF
Journals III this country which have what
il calls IN exaggeration department. !
"The average newspaper-reader," it says,
=. has learned to place no confidence in a
vast deal of stuff which fills the columns
OF these papers. But the effect on the
general reputation Of the press is decidedly |
bad" 1t cannot be doubted. it con-
t;nues, that much OF the once power
full influence OF the press has been
lost in recent times from the fact that
so much space is given TO the contributions
OF irresponsible writers, who produce sem
sational reading out OF their eXuberant
imaginations. We agree with the Journal
of Commerce fully. We think there is need |
OF decided reform in this matter. But
when we come TO consider the particular
incentive TO it, outburst it is difficult to
repress a smile. The New York OK has
been badly gored, and, putting down his
head. he Is charging right and left.
Some one has been eXaggerating"
about Gotham. funeral customs, and an
English reviewer having been gulled by
the article las placed oCr northern friends
in very ridiculous light before the Bri-
tish public.
Exactly how far this reviewer has gone
VIC CANNOT Judge except from our con-
temporsries' comments, but their tenn
per indicates that he has afforded some
racv reading. After declaring that in most
instances the autaoIs OF the sensational AZ
ticles complained Ct are not attached to
the paTors for which they wriio-a conies-
sion that does not speak well for the north
crn press-the Journal Of Commerce says !:
"DoubtlCss the pretended interviews with
unde!takers and the representation OF fu-
neral customs which have imposed on the
British reviewer were the product OF some
one of this class OF writers, written from
pure imagination and sold for three or
four dollars 20 n paper which had MORE
care for sensational than veracious articles.
1t is worth noticing, however, that the
publication Of such imaginary stuff leads
an English reviewer into ridiculous or.
ror about American morals and mar.
ners. ard the fsncies OF reckless
writer 20 into permanent literature for th(
use Of the future historian, who shall hap
pen TO treat OF social customs in Americ:
IN the Nineteenth century. 1t will proba
bly, be stated. according to this reviewer
that II was the custom OF the wealthy il
New York to paint the faces OF the dead
beautiiy the bodies worn by disease, anl
employ dentists TO make sets OF teeth fol
those who died toothleSs."
Such misrepresentation is pretty bad, anC
il is natural that Gotham should squirn
under 1t. Yet it is not a bit worse thai
many things the South has had TO endure
from the northern papers. The Englisl
writer Is simply paying the North in Oh,
coin the North has been dealing out 10 tn
South. For years ii has been the custom
al some Of the most influential papers il
the North not only TO publish exaggerated
articles about the South, but to systemati
caily msrepresent and traduce the south
crn people in their editorial columns
Neither our politics, religion, nor social Gus.
toms have escaped, and some Of the yilest
iibels that Lave ever emanated from these
sources have, as the Journal Of Commerce
would term II, contributed TO the proven.
bal ialsehood OF history" Eveu now lead.
Ing New York journal is endeayoring. for
political purposes, TO distort southern
homicide, such as Is liable to occur In any
community. North or South, into A great
political outrage and evidence of q reign
OF terror and lawleSsness. While we must
do the Joaird! Of Commerce the Justice 10
say that In dealing with southern affairs il
has been much more honest than MANY
northern papers, ii is by no means guiltless
; OF having on OCCASIONS grossly misrepre-
scented them; and therefore we are not
altogether sorry that it has had little taste
OF rcfribution.
Of course the English reviewer who Is
liable TO misrepresent the North is liable TO
misrepreseat tue South also. az In England
the distinction between the two sections b
seldom made. But II our northern brethren