The Russellville Democrat., 1888-10-04

Discussing the s'circus'' question Il
its last issue, our county contemporary
the Mail. is disposed to make 4 poin
against the DEMOCRAT entirely irrelev
ant to the point at issue. We havl
thought for some tins that the Mail wal
pretty good ut "dodging" and nov
since his latest effort we are willing Il
admit that 1t stands pre-cminent In THU
particular limo of work. Although fai
of its base we will endeavor to brinl
the Mail back to the main question.
September 18th the Mail said.
ssDon't think that Barnu m ;.
entire show Is going to visii
Russellville latter part of this
mouth. 1t will be only portion
Of 1t, and may be very small portion
The circus is advertised for TT. Smith
on the same day, and of course cannot
visit both towns at once. 1t will di
vide and give each town portion and
how much of the show will Russellyills
get"
Replying to this September 10th the
DEMOCRAT said:
"What can be the matter with our co.
temporary? Has he wilfully falsified
the ssrecord" or IL he densely ignorant.
II he will read the TT. Smith papers he
will see that the show is not advertised
70 appear at Fort Smith aud Russellvllle
on one and the same day. The adver-
tisements read: At FIT. smith on the
9th and at Russellville on the 28th.
The same show, quantity and quality In
cluded, will be at Russsiiiiyiile as at 9th
er points. Wonder II the misrepresen-
tation was intended to hurt the show,
or was it devised to keep the people
away from Russellvilie? In either
event IL is small newspaper business.
Now comes the Mail September 9th
lodging the question in this wise:
accommodating on our efforts to keep
people from spending their money with
the circus the Russellville Democrat Of
last week denominatcd 1t "small news
paper business" We almit that we
have learned something, 1t has always
been our idea that newspaper should
work for the country's good. II the
Democrat admits this then it must eth
or say that the spending of thousands
of dollars with cIrcuses that take 1t en-
tirely out of the country without
giving value received is good
for the country, or be inconsis
ent. We don't blame the Democrat
when It comes 10 selling ont soul and
how consistent newspaper can do it
In fact there is no consistency about It.
This is indeed "small newspaper busi-
ness"
Our comments were on the Nails
misrepresentation Of the facts In regard
to the shows dates and places of exhib-
ition. We did not advise the people to
come to the show or to stay away. but
we pointed ont the fact thata falsehood
had been told and wondered what the
motive was. The Mail says its
effort was to keep the people from
spending their money with the circus.
We submit would it not have been bet
tor to let the people attend If they want
ed to rather than print falsehood to
prevent it. An editor essaying to
"work for the country's good" should
tell the truth to be consistent. 1t seems
to us somebody has sold out "soul and
body influence and alp and 1t is not
the DEMocRAT either. Perhaps the fol-
lowing from the Little Rock Democrat
of the goth was not intended for the
Mail but if any part of 1t fits all right:
"The advertising agent of Barnum &
Bailey's show Is man Of vast expert
ence in his business. 1t Is impossible
for him to use all papers, 80 he selects
only the best. Sometimes the disap-
pointed ones seek revenge by starting
that the show divides, or that
Barnum is not personally interested.
The parade, superb and grand, as 1t
Is, always gives these statements the
lie.O