The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-19
The Purity of the Press

IL there is one quality above all others
that the press Of the country should pos
sess, it is purity. We hear it asserted on
many sides that the press does not now, as
IN former years mould public opinion, but
the assertion is not entirely correct. 1t is
true that the people are not blind follow
ers OF partisan newspapers, organs of the
different political parties, as they We're in
the days before the war. Still
every paper that is honestly and
truthiully conducted, that earnestly,
boldly and conscientiously expresses its
views and opinions upon the men and the
measures of the day, giving its reasons for
said views and opinions, and supporting
them with logic and good common sense,
has lis influence and assists largely in
shaping and crystalizing public opinion
thereon. The people who read get the
truth and the facts from this class of news
digest these truths and facts, and
whether or not they agree with
the newspaper they read, they are
enabled thereby to form their own conclu.
sions. Newspapers are not infallible, and
especially is this the case with the great
dailies of the day. 1t gives the news oc-
curing everywhere, news of all characters
and descriptions, and they are dependent
upon u large corps OF press and special re-
porters. These press and special reporters
are not always reliable. Sometimes they
are corrupt, sometimes they are careless
and too often, especially special report
ers, they are too anxious to get news
ahead of rivals and they do not take that
care and make those inquiries into the facts
OF a case to insure accuracy OF statement.
The Record is led to these remarks by
recent special to the Galveston News by its
special reporter In Fort Worth, In which
special telegram 1t was stated that Mr..
chant in Dallas, had been indicted tor cattle
stealing. This was an outrageous state
ment, without scintilla of truth in it, or
the slightest foundation for
such rumor, nor can any.
body trace up the rumor or discover that
there was one. Mr.. Schneider is a mer-
chant in our city and a better, or honester,
more upright conscientious gentleman does
not live. He has nothing TO do with cattle,
and more improbable, unjust and utterly
senseless charge could not possibly be made
against any gentleman. II is true no man
who knows him but what was indignant at
the charge, but 1t was nevertheless an as.
persion upon his reputation, and upon his
character ana very unpleasant affair in
every way.
The Galveston News Is not morally
blamable, for how could its managing OF
telegraph editor over three hundred miles
away know anything about IT. The tee-
gram came from its accredited correspon-
dent and it was presumed he ought to
know what he was telegraphing, and know
ing MIR. Schneider as we'll as he did, the
reporter onght to have known better than to
have sent such telegram on mere rumor.
Newspapers are not the vehicles for per.
sonalities or handlers of rumored accusa.
tions, and the sooner editors AMI reporters
find this out the better for the standing aud
the influence Of the press. Again, we say
that it was the misfortune o. me Galveston
News, and not its fault, that the obnoxious,
reprehensible special found its way into its
columns. The blame, morally, can rest
nowhere but upon the reporter, who did
not know a libellous assertion from genu-
Inc item of news.-[Dallas Estray Record.
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