Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-09-26
PA, September 2e, 1889.
MistakinY Onr Callinr.

MtStAk1ng OUR CalI1ngs
The Examiner feels impelled, by the
knowledge which we display of the
proper administration of the streets and
by the obvious failure of the street com.
mittee Of this city to give us good road
ways, to suggest that we he created die.
tator with the needful cash and power
to provide the city with good and clean
streets. Such is the impression made
upon our citizens by the mal-administra-
tion Of the streets, that our Republican
contemporary Is animated to throw upon
the shoulders Of its Democratic associate
dictatorial authority and doubtless
would call even the devil to the aid of the
town IL 1t thought he would give IL
decent streets.
But our amiable contemporary, In u G
depths Of its annoyance over the mud
and ruts that represent our streets, for
gets itself. 1t forgets that the place OF
the editor Is not in public Office. To
no class of men i'm this world Is AS
signed palmer walk than to the editor;
and il IL one which leads him always
alongside the public Office, but steadily
guides him away from the Office. And
a good editor would hardly make good
officer, even though he sought to I've one;
as 30 many have found to their sorrow
when tempted away from the straight
plth Of their calling and seeking TO serve
the people In executive places.
The editors function Is that of adviser,
admonisher and critic; and II by no
means follows that he will bc good In
action who In good in counsel. And even
though he might be so, 1t is lesson that
our experience teaches, that the complete
independence, which is essential to the
vigor Of editorial criticism, is sadly dam
aged by the subjectior of the editor to
the control of the politicians who confer
the offices and by the restrictions of the
Office itself. So that we must decline
the kind hand which the Examiner
would extend to put down the street
committee and make us street commits
sioner and lord high executioner Of the
street nuisanccs of this ancient town /;
which needs one however very sorely.
We invite the Examiner to Join us in
trying to inform and reform the street
committee, which is our only depend
encc now for securing good streets and
in putting it's members out of councils
when We have the chance, ifthey do not
do better.
Perhaps these gentlemen are thinking
they are doing very well, and that our
criticisms are unjust. There IL no telling
TO what depth Of self deception men may
reach, when II Is their own babies and
their own work that they are contem-
plating. Our street committee may
think that our streets are smooth and
clean and beautiful, and that we write
ourselves down an ass" in condcmning
them just as our distinguished friend
theRev. DIR. Mitchell, tells us we did w hen
we took the architecture of his chapel for
that Of market house. The Rev. DIR.
assures us that he and Mr.. Warner, the
architect Of the new market house, con-
. ider the chapel to be "the finest speci-
men OF classical architecture in town !"
rs perhaps il is-of the market house
style and of the classical-in a class "
itself
Now when our distinguished friend,
who knows all about the architecture of
Moses and of Solomon's temple and the
Ark, has so proud an opinion of the
abortion that is his bantlng, and
takes so severe view of the criticism
which we visit upon it, and has so pro-
found conviction of our ignorance of
art and architecture In making 1t, we
are moved To consider 1t very
natural supposition that the less
elevated and dignified members of our
street committee, who are not doctors at
all, but, as the Examiner says, BARRIERS,
grocen, planers, dentists, tailors and
brickmakers, should think that We are
wrong and they are right about the
streets; that they are radiant in beauty
and cleanliness, that their mud is an
adornment and their ruts a grace, and
that our pyramidal ignorance only is
responsible for our failure to appreciate
their work.
Let us have peace with our street
committeeman, who we do not doubt
want to do their duty, If they can un-
derstand what II is. Let us ask them TO
consult their fellow citizens and tell them
10 let them know coniidentially what
they think of the streets Ito let them note
that II is not what we say that con-
demns them, but only the truth
OF what we say. If We speak
Unfairly, we cannot hurt them
much, but will hurt ourselves a great
deal for an editors words are nothing,
that are recognized by his readers as
malicious or foolish. The good editor
seizeS the just complaints of the people
and expresses them he does not make
them f; and he is very careful not. to as
sail the public servants without cause;
and knows he can have no effect with
out support from the popular voice. He
often needs 10 modify the expression Of
a truth that has not yet fully seized
cpon the popular Intelligence but he
never falls To secure the truth as the
foundation of his work and he is eflac.
tive, just as his judgment is good and his
perceptions are true. We claim no more
for ourselves that the animation of an
earnest desire to speak as we see, with
malice toward none.