New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-17
.Sc1NDlTS or THE DAY.

A noticeable feature Of the journalism or the
day IS the space which IS taken up win pun
lic scandals large share Of the news columns
Of every Journal OF any standing In this town
IS occupied with Investigations Of alleged wrong
doing I'm National and local affairs; ana II Is
crcdltablc Indication Of the ethics of the pro
fcssion that no attempt Is made 10 color or per
vert the revelations for partisan purposes. Every
newspaper Of the first rank published a. luh
an account OF the Gray Committees proceed
ings ~ II Is allowed to receive. The arinor-
plate scandal Is laid bare in full detail, ana com
mcntcd upon without regard for the coilSc-
qucnccs 10 ihc Navy Department or TO me 'ar
ncpIe Company The LcXow investigation, WIN
It's discriminating evidence against ponce meth
obs and political management In this town, Is
fully reported In every prominent Journal. anu
mo- attempt is made 10y partisans 10 break the
f,rcr Of IN. revolving disclosures. Whatever
may be- the bearings ~ MI >ihcsc scandals IN
publlr life UPON the fortunes Of administrations
or politicians. the journalism of the day rrcog
MICS iis duty 70 bring all the facts 10 light ana
10 deal honestly with he people
Tn. effect ~ these brpadshccts ~ National
and local scandal upon the public mind must be-
~ promote II dcspondcnt feeling of pcsslmlSn
W reader can rise from these daily disclosures
without holvlnrss Of heart. Whatever may he
his PARTISAN bias. h. must have srilse "f MI
mula,lon when b. reflects upon these evidences
II temporary failure Of American ideas ana a
CORRESPONDING discr,ditlng ~ republican lnstl'u
ti,us and democratic government. Here are the
Senators standing up one 10y one and making
noth tha, they have not been specializing IN
Sugar stocks, and that they have not been i'm
uroncrly Influenced by q Trust which has been
shauclcsslv and succ, ssfully lobbying In Wash
ipciou: and This mock ceremonial marks IN"
close ~ "A sham Investigation. conducted secret
L. and Without heart for the express purpose
~ NOT probing The scandal. Here Is the Cum
mlngs Committee checking or the secret records
- luf,rmcrs and establishing a prima -fncc cas-"
II systematic and monstrous fraud In naval
coutrociS Here il the IrNOW COnmtic" h'ap
lng NJ dav after day a mountain OF evidence
showing that the municipal administration al
this town has been dcbauchrd AMI dcrnorhllz"d,
that the Police Department has been honey
comhcl with corruption and fraud, and that
Tammany Hall has been lcyylng tribute ana
blacknall upon the criminal classes ANA IN"
hounts OF vice What Is there In all these re-
cIials 10 convince impartial readers that Ameri.
can civilization has not gone wrong and proved
10 be- very much Of failure?
We know ~ no rcdccming features except the
candor aud honesty OF the press and the IN
crcnslng signs Of public Indignation ana revolt
against corruption, dishonor and immortality III
politics The journalism Of the day Is inspired
by the public conscience. which * thoroughly
aroused and kccnly alive 10 the necessity Of
purifying the sources Of political power. These
disclosures Of "A Senate not above the rcpr"a"h
of sllrrr.ndcrlng 10 Trust lobby, of paying
political debts incurred In the last Presidential
campaign. and Of taking flyers in Wall Street.
will not be rs the wind whistling In broken
chmney-pot. These revelations OF 'riillnal
frauds IN naval work. by which inspectors were
dupcd and the new ships built OF defective
plates. will inevitably lead to higher standards
Of administrative capacity. This revolving pict-
urr Of the governing classes of the metropolis
Of the New World trnfiicking in wickcdness and
vice and polluted with blnckmall wrung from
tbp most criminal and dcbaScd elements or the
popunfion Is II nightmare Of scandal which VIII
INSPIRE loathing Of current politics and II whole
some reform Of municipal administration. The
pcsslmism that Is excited to-day may open the
way for the we'll founded optimism OF better
politlcll order.