Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-06-14
The Press and the Nominations.
The Nation.

The New York Times has given
respondent whether it intends to
support the nominee of the Chicago
Republican Convention, that it will
support him "if he is a man worthy
to be President of the United
States :" but that eff he shall be a
man who personally or political, in
Office or. out, represents principles
or practices which it abhors," it
twill watch with great interest the
efforts of those responsible for such
a nomination 10 elect their candi-
date, but can give them no help"
We believe that this is the only
sound position at any time for a
newspaper which processes to be in.
dependent, and that il is a. position
which now more than ut any time
since the war it behOoves independ-
ent newspapers to take. Nothing
does more to diminish the influence
of the press and to enable knaves to
despise its criticisms, than the too
common editorial practice of agree
ing beforehand, in return for circu-
lation, to eat every dish, however
nauseous or injurious, a political
convention may prepare. 1t is Of
course open to any man to decide
for himself that he will, on grounds
of public safety or eXpediency, vote
for a candidate who does not come
up to his standard either of integrity
or capacity, provided he does it in
silence, or, il he defends it, defends
it on the true ground. A public
journal, however, can discharge no
duty in silence. Its function is to
talk about what men are thinking
most about, and above all to fur
nish its readers with reasons for do
ing this or leaving that undone.
When a nomination is made, it has
either to commend or condemn il,
and its first duty to its readers is TO
make its commentator or condem-
nation sincere and truthful. This
it cannot do if it be under any sort
Of obligation to applaud the action
of a party convention under all cir
cumstances. This it must do if its
applause is in the long run to be
worth much. A journal which is
known to be ready to eat its own
words, to make black appear white
and white black, to recommend in
the strongest terms for the highest
office this year man whom it last
year described as unfit even for the
lowest, cannot render party much
service except as spreader of news. |
It's opinions can hardly have any
great influence on the fortunes of a
canvass. Readers who seek from a
newspaper any assistance in forming
q judgment on public affairs are |
generally among the first to be dis |
gusted by undisguiSed Inscriptions |
ness, regeneration, or venality.
These considerations are more |
than ordinarily important just now.
In one way or another the graver is
sues which divided the American
people almost from the foundation
of the Government have been dis
posed of. The party organizations
remain, but they are separated far
more by temperament and tradi-
lions than by ideas or aspirations.
in spite of itself, almost for
want of any more exciting work,
the party in power has begun to
turn its attention to the Improve
nent of the administrative machin-
sry, to the infusion, in short, of
more honesty and capacity and
into the management OF
public business. This change gives
% the character of our public men,
If those who are to give the pub lie
,erviee its tone and impuise by
landing at its head, and seeing
hat the laws are faithfully execu-