Evening journal., 1891-10-15

4 AN HUM lila ! NG SFEC ACEEs
It would seem that no self-respectine
paper could have taken purely partisan
grounds concerning the robbery Of the
public treasures In Pennsylvania. But
several Of the papers Of Philadelphia
have assumed an attitude Of hostility
towards Governor Pattison for con
vsning the Senate to investigate the
frauds. The Ledger has taken the only
position thst was possible, consistent
with the honesty and honor with which
every newspaper should be conducted.
But the position OF the Ledger is IN
marked contrast with the positions OF
the other Republican papers. The people
have learned tine reasons why. Hence Il
is unnecessary TO state why the Ledger
is the only Republican paper in Phila-
delphia which eau use words which seem
very brave and noble In contrast with the
evasions of the truth and innuendoes
against Governor Pattison persisted In by
the other papers. The Ledger says.
There Is little in the matter Of Cover
nor Pattison's message which Is abso.
lutely new 1t is the masterful, honest.
fearless manner of the determination. the
grouping, the placing In natural sequence,
the binding together as whole OF old
matter, unfortunately familiar enough 10
the public through the published proceed.
ings OF investigating bodies, which makes
Il Of such great and common interest, and
which gives 1t character dignity aud i'm
pressiyeness Through every paragraph Of
It there shines clearly as truth itself the
light Of high official duty done, Of public
spirited purpose fulfilled Ii this mes.
sage served no other purpose than that
which it so admirably serves, OF carry.
Ing conviction to every intelligent un.
prejudiced reader of it Of the unquestion-
able propriety. of the imperative obliga.
lion which Governor Pattison owed TO
himself, his fellow citizens and the law TO
call the Senate to meet In extraordinary
session TO inquire into the grave /
charges so commonly made against the |
Auditor General and the State Treasurer.
TO the end that their innocence or guilt /
might be established It's author would i
still be more than justified in formulat
Ing and presentingit to the public through |
the Senate.
Continuing, the Ledger says that:
Whether or not 1t is conclusive OF the
guilt, incompetency or errors OF any
one is for the Senate alone to determine.
"The message cuts the last BIZ OF stable
ground from under the feet Of those who
stated or insinuated that Governor Pat
iison had been actuated by the basest
PARTISAN motive in calling the Senate to
meet in extraordinary session. and
puts them TO shame, II they are capable
II shame.
This is not so much matter Of psrti.
san comment though the Democrats are
ising 1t In their campaign Of Thou Shalt
Not Steal as for general humiliation
FOR the motives which have actuated the
press Of one Of the largest cities In the
Union, inducing the papers to stand be-
bind the thieves or to attack those Off
'ials who are striving to bring them to
Justice
Such spectacle shows either Of two
things. that the people have no moral
horror Of this wholesale thievery or
that the papers are irretrievably dis
honest, dishonorable, mercenary and
unfit for the duty Of assisting to en-
tighten the public as to the public acts
Of the servants Of the people, or, to tell
the truth.
In either case the spectacle Of the atti
tude Of the press Of Philadelphia by con
trast with that Of the Ledger is humi.iat-
ing.