Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-03-01
A Question For Newspapers.


The perennial tspie Of newspapers
and candidates is again receiving the
attention Of portion Of the press Of
the country. Newspapers are inquir-
ing whether it Is any part OF their
duty or business to boost aud boom
the ambitions of political candi-
dates without any other compenss-
ton than the satisfaction of seeing
them landed into fat offices. and
reaping the benefit of all the glory
and all she swag there may be IN IT.
There il some quite high feeling
manifested over the matter in certain
papers. Editors are getting tired Of
expsnding their energy in working
np fame for mediocre men, who
without the aid Of the newspaper
would never be known outside the
limited sirele Of village acquaint-
ance. So the Clay County. Neb.,
.Iournql appeals to the brethren of
the pen in query, which il thus
tersely puts ain looking At this
matter from a business standpoint, it
strikes ms that men whs seek posi-
tionS through the suffrage of their
fellow citizens do 50 because it gives
them paving employment, from
whish they expect to realize comfort,
pleasure and money. Now, the
question comes to us, is it the duty
Of newspaper to give its time and
space to help secure these positions
to others, giving them honors, case.
comforts and emoluments while the
editor stands back and holds the
bag - The National Journalist.
The Journalist opens up wide
and interestin. discussion which will
probably be carried on with sigor by
the editorial brethren of the rural
press. A free and untrammeiled
newspaper, which does its full duty
10 the people at large and particular.
ly to the community in which it is
published, should be commended on
lis merits alone, aud a departure
from this principle Of right and JUS
tice should not only be discouraged
but condemned to the fullest extent.
A reliable public journal is regarded
as great lever in shaping the affairs
of State, its influence is felt far and
near and ii has been known to exer-
eiSea restraint over the evil doer.
Shallow Drained politicians do not
appreciate the efforts of a journal
which refuses to "boom" them for
Offices for which they are entirely
nnsuited. But the disappointment
of these near-sighted and mscrupu-
Ions individuals Invariably result in
good to the community, and the
back door politicians are therefore
relegated to the rear, where they
properly belong. That the "pcn is
mightier than the sword" is as APP
propriate now as when the popular
expression was made years ago. The
pen should be guided through by
judicious hand. As IN the past, the
CAPITAL will continue to commend
10 favorable consideration officials
who measure up 10 the Jsffersonisn
principle of honesty and capability.
This is duty we owe as journalists.
But we shall not impose upon our
readers claim for people who are
known to be manifestly unfit for of
fee simply because they have
pull" in political circles. Neither
shall we use our columns to an un-
Just criticism Of any man, however
.owly. While we do not agree with
The article above printed in its en-
tirety. we think responsible news
paper shonld be recognized according
to its influence as a teacher and
moulder of public opinion and that
It should receive earnest support frsm
fair minded people who would have
its tone elevated in = moral and po.
htical sense.