The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-05-26
Reckless and Desreputable Jour-
naliSm.

A special committee of the United
States Senate began an investigation on
Thursday Of allegations that the Sugar
Trust had made heavy contributions to
: the Democratic campaign fund, and that
the sugar schedule was fixed in the tariff
bill to repay the Trust; that Secretary
Carlisle had insisted that the debt should
be paid by arranging the tax so that the
Trust would be r, .nbursed; that four or
five Senators, who knew of the schedules
in advance, made large sums by speeula-
tions in stocks, &c.
The chief author of these allegations
was one L. J. Edwards, the Washington
correspondent of the Philadelphia Press,
and he was the first witness examined.
From his own testimony it appeared that
his whole story was almost without any
foundation-mere speculations and suspi-
ciops of his own. He declined to state
upon what authority he made some of the
allegations, and in other instances he had
nothing specific to base his story upon.
The daily press is getting so unreliable
as TO be almost worthless as vehicles OF
correct information beyond the chronicling
of the actual events and happenings of the
day. They appear to be conducted wholly
on the mercenary plan, and print the sus-
picions of careless and irresponsible cor
respondents to make sensations in order to
increase the sales of the daily editions. In
political matters they seem to be utterly
unreliable and unfair. The editorial
columns are made to suit the policy of the
managers of the papers, and their cor
respondence from Washington and other
centres of political activity are shaped to
conform to the same policy. Many of
them are entirely mischievous and maig-
nant in their course, and utterly indifferent
TO truth. Prominent men are assalled
and misrepresented for purpose. Even
headlines are deliberately framed to be
sensational and misleading, and often
evince either gross ignorance or utter
abandon.
The Philadelphia Press article, which
has started the Sugar Trust investigation,
is case in point, and the malignity to
Senator German is evinced in nearly every
thing the Baltimore Sun prints in regard
to that gentleman. His very able speech
on Tuesday was handled with an utter
recklessness, and the editorial comments
and the comments of its Washington cor
respondent were most unfair and untrue.
Such journalism is degrading and hurtful
to the highest of eallings. The prostitu-
ton of the press to malignant purposes Is
dangerous to society and to good govern
nent. As teachers of the people, the
noulders of public opinion, the press
should always be fair, candid and honest.
When it is otherwise, it is harmful and
mischievous.
The ADVOCATE is not one of Mr. Cor
mans champions. We are only interested
that he, as one of the prominent Demo-
cratic leaders, shall be fairly treated.
Dishonest criticism of him, and deliberate
perverson of his objects and aims in mat
tiers Of legislation under platform promises,
is hurtful to the Democratic party. 1t is
the party rather than Mr.. German that
the ADVOCATE is interested in. And we
are also interested in maintaining the
honor and dignity of the press, the bulwark
of the rights and privileges of the people,
the mainstay of good government, and the
hope of the republic, when properly con-
Quoted When it descends to personal and
petty personalities, it is harmful, When
it disregards the truth and resorts to per-
version and misrepresentation, it is a
menace to good government.