Asheville daily citizen., 1894-12-20
An EDITORIAL BLCNDER

We are sorry to learn from the columns
of the Charleston News and Courier that
it has not a proper idea OF the dignity Of
the profession OF journalism. The editor
sent a reporter to Interviewer to get
news about the President Of the United
States, then in Georgetown, 5. c., on a
duck shooting trip. The reporter chat
tered tug, and went out to the Wisteria
in time to see the President rise "labori-
ously from his scat" in a steam launch
and board the Wisteria into which he
disappeared. The reporter of the News
and Courier was refused admittapce to
the Wisteria, though there as reporter
and also as the bearer of an ninvitation for
the President to visit Charleston. Then,
instead of departing from those sacrtd
precincts forthwith upon receiving tie
snub, be proceeded to Learn from men,
bers of the crew and others who have
seen him the President that his foot
and ankle are troubling him badly the all
ment being rheumatic gout. From trying
to interview President and then getting
OH to all tours to pick up crumbs Of
presidential gout news from the fore
castle hands is a drop. but the reporter
was prepared for worse. He called out
Capt. Evaus-Fighting Bob Evans, com
mander of the New York. The latter
was courteous but firm; the reporter
was not to step foot on the Wisteria.
Then the reporter PLAYED bis trump card.
He "produ ed letter from the editor Of
The News and Coul ier asking the Presi-
dent to grant the reporter an interview
Capt. Evans kindly carried the letter to
Mr.. Cleveland, but returned few
moments later and said that the Pres-
dent sent his kindest regards to tie
editor of The News and Courier, but
that he must beg to be excused from the
interview, as be was very much fatigued."
By this time something broke in on the
reporters comprehension. after this"
he telegraphed the News and Courier,
there was nothing to do except to leave,
especially as Commander Evans,
although exceedingly courteous, looked
as though he wished The News and
Couriers s tug in shcol.'
There was more of this rot, and we
say that the News and Courier editor
lacks proper sense of the dignity of his
profession. Aud this, not because he sent
the reporter on an crrand that developed
little but a pronounced snub, but be-
cause the editor gave to the world the
u'ldetails OF how that snub was Effected.
Why should man in the newspaper
business. any more than in any Other
walk Of life, advertise nor tifying fail
urc? II a gentleman in the usual walks o,
lie is snubbed lie does not forthwith rush
into print to tell how it was done; he
preserves a strict silence about the mat
ter, and awaits his hour and oppor-
tunily.
The day Of Bosw eilism is pretty we'll
past. Johnson's devoted follower was
the greatest reporter Of his time-one OF
the greatest of any time; but a miserable
specimen of humanity nevertheless.
Times have changed; journalism is an
honored and honorable professiop repor.
ters no longer do eavcsdropping for the
sake It news; nor do they attempt to
push themselves into presence that is
invariably closed to them; they take the
hint, and avoid the kick in time.
We remark finally that it would not
have made President Cleveland feel
worse but better to have had few mo-
ments private talk with the News and
Tou,;sr reoortsr