Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-06-16
HAS OUR SYMPATHY.

The Statesman seems seriously, sorely
and sourly grieved because THE HERALD
copied despatch from the Baltimore
american, headline and all, about the
action it has taken for the benefit OF its
creditors. The particular point of COM
plant is that the proper distinction was
not made between the appointment of
assignees for the benefit of creditors, or
trustees for the benefit of creditors, as
signing or 0Uer-signing. The record
shows the full particulars and not hay
ing $40 to give to a lawyer to make
distinction we were not able to make
ourselves, the notice was published as it
appeared without malice or comment, and
solely as a matter of news to the public,
with unexpressed feelings of sympathy
for what may happen to us or anybody
ia these good times of Reform, Revis-
ion and Reduction, of which the States
man is an august champion.
We do not believe that any experience
ed lawyer or journalist would have ask
ed the city papers for after-clap explana-
lions about question of veracity that
was simply matter of time, debtor and
creditor, one way; or creditor, debtor
and time, the other security and secur-
ed,-trust and trusted lit would take a
razor that would cut hair to cut legal
technicality of such finesse without leav-
ing ragged edge. The assertions of VEN
ON and falsehood are as gratuitous as the
insinuation deducted from the little no
tice that appeared in our paper, that the
Statesman would stop; we never thought
so for moment, and said nothing thatwas
within hundred miles of giving out the
idea for it must be green newspaper
man who does not know that if a paper
once stops, old metal is worth barely a
cent or two pound.
The truth is there is too much sickly
sentimentality in Martinsburg life for the
good of the business of the town. There
is school represented by civility and
courtesy that would run the town in a
quiet, easy, offend-nobody way "a one
sided deafness about it socially and
financially that ruins all chances of en-
terprise, push and business. The very
laws seem to be framed that way. Poll
tics of the Statesman order is run that
way and then when trouble, depression
and failure come, o its providential, say
nothing about it, trust in the Lord
matter-of-fancy life.
We were raised in more matter of
fact life,-used to working and saving,
and taking things like bull by the
horns) as they really are and not as the
idealist feign would have them. That is
the reason we are plain out with every
thing, that the public may have the
rough side of the facts to depend upon,
and not the smooth banisters of sham
courtesy and civility in every day life
that land the unsuspecting in a collegiate
mud-hole, This is business age, and
the public demand is for the NEWS, not
long-winded explanations and nauseous
apologies. There is no reason why one
set of men should be exempted from
public notice when they figure in pub
lie, and another not. If we are concern
edwith anything that is of interest to the
public, whether of fortune or misfor-
tune, honor or disgrace, publish it !;
that's modern progress.
There are towns that have banished
the sale of refreshments, forbidden
shows and theatricals, and settled
down to moral plane that resembles
heaven more than earth and they die
of wondering why their town is more
like a Mexican adobe village than a
growing business place. So with that
sort of public management that would
scoop everything in with taffy ladle
and feed few on the desserts of life, be-
cause of culture and raising above that
of the masses. The bone and sinew of
the business and progress end and aim
of town thus hampered by sentiment
tally, must soften, and the result we all
experience.
The Statesman s. reference to corpora
ton matters we must leave go as it is,
for the people are sea-sick on that ques-
ton, and demand rest. Time and tide
of public affairs will take care of us all,
according to the merits of the issues we
spouse and it will yet reveal who
struck Billy Paterson. But while the
Statesman talks so consolingly about
blind rage and conscientious regard
for the public good, !" there are those just
as much interested who are asking
whether the pressure of a Mogul engine
on corporation affairs is as meaning as
the wish and voice of the tax payers !;
and whether the reports of brides of ''the
best days wages " and bets of fifty dol
lars, forty of which is to go for vote.
are for the best interests of the town, and
whether they reflect honor or credit
upon any body concerned ?