Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-07-10
sTRANoLINa GOOD INTENT

sTRANoLING GOOD INTENT
The press is a mighty factor for good
and in a general way its power is used for
benefcent purposes. but there are people
who have control of influential journals,
a. well as small papers of no influence, or
who have the entire To the columns of
newspapers, who use their privileges to
the extent of unbridled license. and who
thereby do much TO bring the press into
disrepute. They do not hesitate at any
manner of Misrepresentation TO further
their aims or the aims of those who sub
sidize them, and will at moments notice
become guilty of the grossest, and if oc-
casion seems to demand. the most cruel
statements to make a point. Subterfuge
is their stock in trade and ch.canery. false
hood, sophistry. cunning and deceit its
accessories. Compared in the aggregate,
this does not largely obtain among news
papers. but considered a. distinct mat
ter, there is so much of it that the entire
press suffers for il among the masses. aud
thus ii is that the unreliabiity Of news
paper assertions has grown proverbal
among the uncharitahle. who would
rather think illof any class than good.
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Taken generally newspaper men are
possessed of the average amount of YER
acty, their calling always making them
enthusiastic. and their responsibility as
informers TO the people Of what is trans
piring. makes them honorable and
reliable. and possesses them with high
degree of integrity. Patriotism is largely
their religion, especially the local variety.
hence word against their nation. state.
county, town. ward or neighborhood.
brings them up in arms "and eager for
the fray" The average western editor
will run his legs off hunting something
good 70 say about his town. vicinity or
region. and will wear out his nerves aud
eyesght. writing up and printing the
same. He works for his town with all
his energy and defends il against asper-
sion as a she-bear would her cubs against
abduction. Though doing this cease
lessly and untiringly, he i not always so
much as applauded while he i doing il.
aud is always forgotten as soon "a the
fight is over. But this latter he excuses
TO be a foible of human nature and goes
ON working for other good ends.
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Ma levolent newspaper men. however,
are of sufficient number and strength TO
succeed in cutivating characteristic of
social and political life which i unfor-
tunate and which is doing much 10 impede
or hinder the good that many would do.
or to counterac' its influence when il i
done. They impute TO public men, for the
slightest reason-or for no reason at all
wrong OF unworthy motives and will
transform an act of charity into one of
scheming. self-seeking. or policy. All Of
which does society an injury and has the
effect. In many instances. Of reducing the
aggregate of kind deeds. Thus. frequent
ly, wealthy and charitably disposed
man. who may have eommendable am
bition to be elected TO an Office in which
he could serve the public with efficiency.
albeit the high honor of the place may be
largely his controlling motive. would have
some hestancy, If not trepidation.
about making great public
gift. or doing something for
great benevolence, no matter how sin
eerely disiuterested his purpose. for the
reason that he would surely be accused of
personal. selfish or polite aims.
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In exchanges lying before us at this
writing-and largely lying before they
left their places of puhlcation-we have
seen articles which have suggested the
above thou hts. One great newspaper in
this Pacific Northwest. for instance. at
tempts to show that the building aud I'M
yelling of statue of Thomas Hendricks.
great. though democratic statesman,
was all part of scheme in which the
widow OF the statesman was TO obtain an
opportunity TO do something favorable to
the nomination Of David B. Hill a. the
candidate for president On the democratic
ticket in lsg2, as against Grover Cleveland
in the convention. All OF which j. not
ouly contemplate. but more or less ghoul-
ish. journal Of less note discovers that
because at the time Of the militia encamp-
!. ment at American Lake. Gov. Ferry. who
Mas there toreview the National Guard a.
. conmander-n-chief. happened to be in "a
4 tcnt one evening with a number of prom
cent officers of the militia. who are also
publicans. that the gathering was IA
c5oal for the connection Of some deep laid
DON tical schemes. among which was one
for Making Governor Ferry formidable
candidate for the L. ). senatorship. Yet