The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-18
CURRENT PRESS COMMENT.

congressman has brought down upon his head the
severe censure of the mugwumps. They cannot con-
celve how he could be SO Jolly green as to "give
himself away" in document which was sure to be
made public, and through the shallow arguments of
which the veriest tyro in politics could see The
anger OF the mugwumps is natural. They have been
claiming that the administration sincere in its
cvilservice reform promises and to have their
tions made ridiculous by prominent member of the
Cabinet is not pleasant. Mr. Villas should submit his
next circular before he issues it, to a council of mug
wumps.-Philadelphia Press.
The only censors of the press in this country are
the clergy, sefappointed to the agreeable task, and
this has been about the only ground on which
all the ministers have been able to meet and heartily
join hands. 1t has hurt the press and in the re-
action which must take place, and is even now in
progress, our reverend friends sure to learn
good deal to become wiser if more modest men, and
generally to grow in grace and in the knowledge of
the allembracing humanities. Meantime, the aver
age American editor will for the best of reasons,
continue to maintain his attitude of CAIN superiority
to the widely differing, though conscientious expoun
ders of a many sided ENTHUSIASTICALLY Union.
IT will not take the country very long TO get so dis
gusted with the professional reformers' and the very
name of reform that there will be end Of them
and of the party which they helped by peddling SLAM
ders. The country that the Republican party,
which was pronounced too foul to live had conducted
the public service well that Democrats are forced to
initiate its methods and borrow its IDEAS thatt had
filled the service with officials worthy incapable
that Democratic administration cannot get along
without them and can find pretext for removing
one in hundred of them; That is the party which
the apostles of Cant called corrupt. Mr.. Cleveands
is the party from which they expected glorious "re-
form. New York Tribune.
IT is, indeed, hardly possible that any English
statesman can doubt the significance of the whole
movement in Asia, and as the Afghans are an un-
certain ally, and as the Russians count upon mutny
in India whenever they make serious and declared
hostile demonstration the situation is of the utmost
sobricty for England To avoid war, to satisfy En-.
gsh pride, and to restrain Russian encroachment at
this juncture would be stroke of consummate
craftsmanship than has been for many a year.
But to avoid war without sacrifice of honor of any
real possession it be possible has been the duty and
the aim OF Mr.. Gladstone and every man who knows
ly wish him success.-Harper's Weekly.
IT is impossible to consider Gladstone in any other
light than that of the most accomplished diplomat and
statesman of the age. There primroses about
him; no lingo policy no can't no hypocrisy identi
fcation with the party which fights great battles in
the safe covert of the club and plans magnificent cam
pagns on the stock exchange. Gladstone knows that
the common people, who pay most of the taxes must
fight the real battles. He is able see through the
cigar smoke and champagne mists into the small
homes and farm houses of Gr7at Britain, and he
knows what means to the masses No wonder he
is willing to strain English honor to the utmost in be-
in the event of collision, expected to do the
fighting. Gladstone is patriot well as diplomat
and statesman-W ashington Critic.
| AS to newspapers utterances being shaped bv
public opinion that is putting the cart before the
horse. The force which moves and shapes public
opinion and sentiment is the newspaper and nearly
all men, Mr.. GLADDEN. included tine pupils of the
newspaper What they know and think about current
events and discussions they get for the most part
from the journals they read and their ideas pub
lie affairs usually only rehash of what they have
read there for newspaper of power and consequence
has in its service the men who in general. are best
qualified to nerprete events and to set the drift of
| opinion in regard to them. newspaper is accord
ngly only at The mercy of public opinion when it is
unit to perform It's proper function it may be be.
OF lack OF ability lack of courage the narrow
ness OF the circle of readers whose tastes
| sult.-New York Sun. s..
! THE Edmunds law applies to Idaho as we'll as to
| Utah, and glad the polygamsts in Idaho re-
sisted the authorities at the time the delegates from
| Utah whining at the White House in Washing
ton. There is however, much in their protest that
true 1t is true that is hard to break up FAM
lilies of any kind where the existing relation is salts
factory but the rghting of any wrong always
attended with great hardships. The abolition of
slavery no doubt separated many slaves and masters
who satisfied to continue IL mutual relations of
master and slave, but this made the evil less a
to the South and to the whole country. Polyg
amy must cease in this country and whine as they
win about it. decry as they may the many evils at
that their system is revolving to the people Of the
whole country. and that it is doomed to speedy and
certain extinction.-Chcago News.
FRANK and just censure of the errors of Cabinet
officers in the exercise of their discretion is therefore
the best service the Democratic press render the
administration. The country and the Democracy
have both outgrown that stupid partisan Bcurbonism
which tolerates nothing but indscrimnate approval
and praise of 'our-side and leaves all faultEndng
the opposition. 1t is well for the Democracy that
to relieve the Republican papers of censuring Mr.
Bayards appointments. continuance of such mis-
takes as he has made in ignoring such men Allen
G. Thurman and appointing blatherskites and polti
cal ciphers to diplomatic and consular positions,
would insure the failure of any administration and
those who would encourage persistence in such mis-
takes by crediting all criticism to personal d;sappont
men or hostility are not acting as his friends but
merely seeking to grind their own axes.-St. Louis
| Post-Dispatch
A NEWSPAPER is, or should be what its name i'm
plies In printing that is. the tidngs of actual
occurrences day by day. it forced to publish things
that it approves and things that il does approve;
but it's not compelled to discuss edorialy theology
cal principles differences and experience shows that
| it would be most unwise if it were to do so since
journals of professedly religious character such as
the Now York World was at the outset have uniform
failed in that capacity and certainly be sup
posed in failing to better the cause they were de-
signed to support. There many persons of unaf
fected pety employed In the Offices of lay newspapers
/ who not only maintain friendly attitude toward
religion but unalterable attachment for it, yet
who neither recognize the need of their journal for
special religion Of its own. would approve its be-
| ing endowed with such religion for the foregoing
reason "A well as for others that might easily be adj
duced.-New York Commercial Advertiser.