Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-09-02
THE SUNS, BUTLER.


The cratic behavior of the New York
Sun is not easily explained. Its bril-
liant editorial writer, Mr.. Dana, makes
it a one-man paper-which is unfortunate
journalism. No journalist, however tai
ented, can manufacture public opinion.
Mr.. Dana has demonstrated this in his
own experience within the last twelve
months. He tried Intellectually, when the
present political campaign had not yet
opened, to boom Mr.. Holman for the
Presidency, but the Democrats did not
want the Great Director for their nomi.
nee. After Mr.. Dana had worn out his
readers with brilliant articles in eulogy
of this favorite of his, and he saw he
had to drop him, he took up Joe Melon
aid and then Sam Randall and then
Bayard. The Suns leaders in praise OF
these great Democrats we're read with
pleasure, not, however, for the sound
ness of their political suggestions but
because Of Mr.. Dana's magnificent rheto.
ric-that and nothing more. And, 60
ing to show what Mr.. Dana's judgment
is in q political contest, we may relate
how he made his paper monotonous at
last by alternately assuring the public
that Mr.. Tilden would accept the nomi.
nation for President and that he would
not. To be quite plain about it, Mr..
Dana has shown himself to be a captious,
bull-headed egotist, and has Numbered
on all occasions. He has been Infatuated
to find that the Democracy repel his
dictatorship. and in his rage and disap-
pointment he has been guilty Of acts
that bespeak him mad. He has slurred
Cleveland continually; while he has
scored Blaine as only a tartar like him.
self can. His first cry was: "The Re-
publicans must co." then ''the Republi-
cans ought to CO." Now, he would send
all those people to who are not will
ing to sit down with him to a dish of
Ben Butler. 1t is painful in any station
Of life to stultify ones self-to commit
mental or moral suicide, whichever you
please-but it must be extremely 80 in
the case of a writer whose articles are
read and discussed by a million persons
every day. In such a place a man had
better say too little than too much. Not
long ago, in Dana's opinion, Butler was a
veritable beast" though so great
and SO good. To show how far a news
paper making pretense of consistency
and d~ecency can 60 in disgraceful self
qualification, the following description
of Butler from the New York Sun OF
June 26, 1873, may be considered
''mighty interestin' readin':"
Hated by some, condemned by many,
and distrusted by all, this bad man with
his crooked ways, foul methods, distorted
mind and wicked heart, glories in these
moral deformities, haunts them con
stantly before the public eye and trafics
In them as political merchandise. The
notoriety which decency shrinks from as
degradation, he seeks at any sacrifice.
He treats the reproach which follows
such exhibitions as so much capital
added to the stock of ill-fame that had
already made his name odiously conspic-
nous in and out of Congress. Rejoicing
in his own shame and coming money from
open venality, discarding any pretence Of
principle, bound by no ties of honor,
soothing at religion, making politics a
trade, despotic when clothed with author.
ity, cowardly by nature. mercenary from
habit and destitute of one ennobling
quality for manly attributes to lift him
above these wretched characteristics, he
is to-day the leading candidate for the
highest honor in enlightened Massachu-
sets. To this complexion have we come
nj last.