Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-09-02
THE ISLANDER HILLS.

This fair city of peace has in its day
had reputation for being the starting
place Of great many new spapers and
the graveyard of nearly AS many more.
Lured on by the deceptive charm Of
beinga state capital, aud in the pres
ence Of the corruption aud partisan
scandals always bred at a seat of gov
ernment, this has been a rich field
for the political adventurer, the profes-
sional blackmailer, aud the newspaper
slander monger.
Salem has been subjected with the
output of the scandal mill for year
past. First the alleged asy ylum scandals
filled the columns Of this scavengeI
press that possesses none Of the iu-
stincts of decent journalism. Wha
was the result? Did it achieve any re-
form? Beyond blacknailing the name
of a pure woman, Miss Lillian Robin,
who was afterward officially declared
innocent of all wrong, the slandel
mills did nothing but corrupt aud de-
grade their readers.
The state board of charities that paid
heed TO the scandal moDgering report
ers and editors was unanimously abOl-
ished aud had no one to say a word 10
it's behalf. Next the sewer reporters
worked up the Mrs. Title DeLeon
scandal, an affair that with the Others
cost the county and state hundreds and
thousands of dollars and resulted in
rendering family very unhappy and
blackening the good name of hitherto
blameless wife and mother. OF course,
the smut mill reporters and publishers
sold papers and made q living and put
Supt. Downing in an unenvIable light.
That they had to confess themselves
liars In court was nothing to them or
their enjoyment of life, liberty and
happiness. Next the slander mills
charged THE JOURNAL with trying to
blackmail one Shaw. This proved
boomerang, for the reputation of the
men they attacked was never for mo-
ment called in question and they
served man who was thoroughly rot
ten for few dirty dollars, and every
court decided against them. 1t was
nothing to them that they shielded
man guilty of fiagrantly immoral con-
duct, 1t was nothing to them that
family had been dlsgraced and they be-
came the tools of the debaucher. But
that they should sell their columns to
charge crime where IL did not belong to
screen the guilty man-that capped the
climax of all past achievements. All
that has been done since has only been
a continuation of the work of these
slanderers aud scandal mongers.
They seem to be animated with mad
ness to build themselves up by grovell-
ing In filth and fiinging their sewage
at others to distroy their regulations
This is not the way men are made great
and strong for careers OF usefulness to
their fellow citizens. Character build
Ing is not a process Of defiIement. The
Islander mills are useful in a way.
They reveal what certain indiyiduals
would do II they had power over
others. 1t Is we'll that those who
readily believe evil have no authority
and control over the community. III
they were In position TO pass judg
ment and enforce DEGREES In matters
where they are now only self-deceived
society would be In great danger. But
those who erect and furnish the means
to run the scandal mills have grave
responsibility to face In the future.
They and their families will reap the
harvest that they sow. Injustice and
inhumanlty only reproduce themselves,
aud those who enjoy the practice
OF crueltIes aud the torturers of the
helpless victims Of the slander mills |
will live to see them practiced upon |
themselves. Salem will reap a harvest
Of tares from the columns Of degrada-
tion that have been poured into thou
sands OF families needlessly the past
year. We hope for the best. But who
can doubt but that the moral tone and
standard ofa community are lowered
by reckless scandal mongering press?
Whatsoever ye SOW, that shall ye reap.