Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-10-23
For Sheriff.
WILLIAM B. MILLER.
For County Surveyor,
CHARLES 4. TOWNSEND.
AFRAID OF THE PRESS.

AFRAID OF THE PRESS
The President is reported to have said re-
Gently, that he finds much difficulty in secur-
ing first-class men for important positions
in the public service on account of the dis
inclination of such persons TO submit 10 the
constant and ungenerous criticism which
even the best Of officials must expect from
the press Of the country.
We have no means OF knowing Just how
many first-class men have refused appoint
ment under the present Administration for
this reason, but we suppose the number is
not SO large as the Presidents remark would
lead one TO suppose. 1t is quite certain, at
any rate, that there are good many men of
that class who have not had an opportunity
10 decline avors ut Mr. Cleveands hand on
any account, and it is barely possible that
his idea Of what constitutes firstcass merit
does not agree with the common estimate
in that connection If he would give the
names of the superior individuals whom he
has thrust into office and failed at il through
their unwiIingness 10 become targets for
the newspapers, then we would be better
able to judge how much the nation has
really lost in that way.
1t is undoubtedly true that there are men
in this country who do not care To hold
Office because of the habit that the press
has of commenting freely upon the man
ner in which Official duties are per.
formed, but it is assuming considerable TO
say that they are first class men. AS a
general thing firstcass men are not afraid
OF the newspapers, and they do not have
any reason TO be. The press is always in
search d characters of that kind, not for
purposes of attack and annoyance, but with
view Ia appauding and promoting them
On the contrary, they are much more liable
To err IN the direction of trying to make
reasonably clever man look bigger than he
actually is or ever can be, The ii les of the
newspapers every where are more or less
blurred with provoking reminders of this
Fact, and II IN 'rc care is now exercised in
such respect than was formerly the case, il
only goes b. prove that editors, like other
people, learn by experience and become
every year better qualified to discriminate
between true ability and mere pretense and
audacity.
There cannot bc Il case cited where the
press has either purposely or incidentally
done permanent injury 10 public man
who did not deserve such fate In the
very nature Of things, it is impossible TO put
down iirst-class man in that way The
power of the press is great, but ii is not
equal TO the task of destroying reputation
that has been honestly won and that has no
fundamentally weak places in it; and NJ
newspaper of a substantial and influential
description ever attempts To do such a thing.
ii all the papers in the country were TO
combine IN systematic effort To overcome
man in whom the people have thorough
confidence, and who has demonstrated his
ability and his worthiness, they would fall
short of accomplishing their object 1t is
only when a man has some how obtained
credit to which he is not justly entitled, or
is in some dree undeniably bad or inefficient
that the press can compass his definite ruin.
The impression that ialsehood persevered in
will have the effect OF truth at last in bring
ing disaster to an entirely Innocent or truly
capable man is a grave and mischeyous
mistake, and no one realizes this fact more
distinctly and lorcibly than the editor of a
newspaper, whose own standing depends
upon the belief OF his readers in his veracity
aad his integrity ofconviction and purpose.
The man in public life who does his duty
capaby and honestly has nothing whatever
TO fear from newspaper criticism Asa rule,
he finds the papers are an encouragement
and help to him. They watch him closely,
because that is what they are for, and if they
assail him he may be very sure that they
have reasonable cause 10 do so and that in
stead ol complaining about it he had much
better try 10 silence structures by improving
his methods and correcting the faults that
they point out
All partisan journals are prejudiced To
Blu N'N"eNi N'NiSci nub VIC DcDplt Ttilul
ly make the proper allowance for that, and
il does no one any harm. Indeed, il may
be fairly claimed that partisan vigilance and
general partisan antagonism have whole.
some tendency, and serve 10 stimulate Off
cial industry and circumspeetion.
No public officer is any the worse for be.
ing constantly subject 10 surveillance 10y
political opponents, and many OF them are
unquesIionably much the better for it, In
short, the plea that frst-class men cannot
afford 10 hold Office for the reason that the
press will make life burden to them, un.
der any circumstances, Is simply bit of
pompous nonsense II has never yet hap.
pened that any man has been prevented
from serving the country faithfully and sue
cesslully by newspaper criticism, nor is such
an event at all likely ~ occur in the future.
The men who have cause TO shrink from
that sort Of thing are the men who lack the
character and ability TO stand practical
straightforward test Of fitness for position
Official aud 50 dare not risk the chances of