Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-12-18
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A PLEA FOR THE PRESS.

The Martinsbnrg HERALD is one
Of our neatest and best exchanges.
-Ritchie Gazette.
We have had Bro. Morris in our
minds eye for some time, only walt
ing for chance to say something
complimentary of him in recognition
of his merits as journalist, legisla-
tor, and statesman. He is so meth.
odic and particular about the conduct
of the press of the State, coming
down upon the refractory brethren
with all the weight of his mighty pen,
that we feared to incur his displeas-
ure by any abrupt journalistic allusion
to him. He is the ablest parliament
arian in the State, not excepting his
eminent prOtege, VIM. Meekius
Owens Dawson, of the Preston Co.
Journal. His sense of newspaper
propriety is so fine, that he does not
trust to Webster or Worcester in
administering a fraternal rebuke,
but has vocabulary of his own
slowed away in the "pi box " Of his
sanctum, beside his linguistic club.
But to be earnest, the name Of p.
w. Morris, Esq, does call to mind
that the Republican party of this
State has no truer nor more worInJ
friends and opponents than many
Of the editors OF its papers men
who have for years fought its battles
on no others ground than principle
and received no other pay than the
knowledge of duty faithfully per-
formed. Hon. G.. N. Hoffman, of the
Morgantown Post, probably stands
first IN point of years and work.
Then come Morris, of the Richie
Gazette Dawson, of tho Preston
Journal; Shinn and the Powels, OF
the Fairmont West FirgiaiaR
White, of the State Journal, not for.
getting the Intelligencer men, the
leading Republican paper OF tho
State. There are other papers
equally worthy OF mention, such as
the Charleston Tribune, the Weston,
Philippi, Huntington, and Grafton
Republican papers, etc.
Some of these newspaper men,
like Messrs. Morris and Dawson,
have done good work for the people
in the State Legislature, as we'll as
by their efforts through the press
and in their legal professions.
Now, may we not ask why the
Republicans in the next Legislature
should not show such q state of
"pernicious activity" as to recog-
nize the merits of the Republican
press Of the State, and encourage it
by just appreciation Of its merits 7
IL the Democrats want to consign
Coal Oil Camden to the regions Of
" inocuous desuetude," and at the
same time show their appreciation of
the labors of the press of this State,
let them fill the soul of some over
worked Democratic editor like fancy
or Tippett or Jackson, with the
"ghoulish glee Of an admired adj.
ministration, and trust for the neces
sary "boodle to some other lord Of
politics. AS the Republicans are
the only ones who can afford to be
"offensive partisans " for conscience
sake, let them vote first, last and all
the time for press representative
like Morris; and if any "eiyil ser.
vice reformers want to immortalize
themselves by RELOCATING to the rear
the "boodleite," let them vote with a
respectable minority and elect man
whom the State need not be ashamed
Of in our senatorial halls or at home,
and whose millions " will not cor
rupt even the pdge-boy, kept busy
from morning to night hunting mp
parliamentary references. Brethren
of the press, have we not struck the
right key i-even if the Democrats
do say it's badly out OF tune, and call
| it decidnous virility" or "a futile
dalIiance."