The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-29

teIlpOIdrleS, - just NOW ~respOuslplo 10
q good deal Of hysteria among us.
1t may be, however, that ii is our loca
newspaper contemporaries who are mos
to blame for what seems TO be an in
cipient epidemic of the disease. Both
our contemporaries are by nature inclined
TO become ~hysterical, not to say not
under the collar, and to throw them
selves about like so many fresh
smelt plunged into a frying
pan of hot lard, whenever
they think they a make game out OF
the public and, incidentally, of the pub
lie. Our down-street contemporary is
ever looking for something to d~enounce,
and our up-street contemporary, while
disdaining to express itself editorially
on any subject of any interest, lets
loose its battalion of handsome, but
Eighty, reporters and permits them to
fall into the hands of designing men of
the kind who stand on the curbstones
and "voice public opinion all day long
in lieu OF having any better occupation.
la these days when the germ of popu-
ism is found even in steady-going and
cool-headed communities like our own,
anything that is called a corporation is
a shining mark for a good deal of brick
bat throwing and a little newspaper
encouragement can easily start up
"A fustlQ1a T,tot nNu. kAa TT-.--
Railroad Company is the subject
OF attack and another day it
may be some other OF the semi-pub-
lie corporations, or a mill, or some of
u big retail establishments. All it
needs to wake mp this populistic spirit is
to start n rumor that somebody is
making too much money out of us and
laying up more of tins worlds goods
than we can see any excuse for, and the
denouncing business will follow quickly
enough.
The fact that an institution like the
Union Railroad Company wants my
thing at all is, to q great many, Of both
good and evil disposition. prima facie
evidence that it shouldn't have it. And
the fact that the city or State govern
ment, in dealing with such institutions,
finds it desirable, even necessary, to
make certain arrangements with
such an institution that expert
ence demonstrates ought to be
made, is sufficient ground for
a good many otherwise sensible
persons to denounce our public officials
an i~ncompetency that amounts to
idiocy and for venality and dishonesty
besides. 1t is very easy for a rattle
headed chap with a lead pencil and
of blank paper to put that sort OF
stuff into print If a newspaper corpora
ton is disposed to let him, or is heed
Of what appears in its columns,
and there are still many good folk
too ready to allow their opinions
to be formed by such emanations and to
go forth and join In indignation with
those good people who have equally
ideas original with them
selves. Then is likely TO begin a fusi-
ade Of the gentle brickbats. Citizens
who think they are indignant want to
ret together in a mass meeting to pro-
est against something that baseless as
have informed them ought 10
70 protested against. They do not meet to
inquire but to protest first and learn after |
ward. They write letters to the editor.
hey recklessly charge men Of unim-
eachable character, of integrity, of
sagacity, with being thieves |
fools. They rouse themselves into
pretty delirium, all the while clinging
D the delusion that they are broad
public-spirited and possessed of
,ore than the ordinary share of sound
ense.
OF course all this has its serious
base. No such causeless convulsion of
so small a part of our citizenship is
to contemplate. To nyone
Tho has acquired a profound conviction
{ the soundness OF public sentiment,
nd a respect for the wholesomeness of
rule. such artificial spasms
eed not alarm any more than
70 need loose faith in our form
+ government because majorities do
ften enough make mistakes. In the
nd public sentiment comes out all
Ight, even il it does appear to be hope
'ssly rattle-headed at times. 1t re-
uires only a short memory t. recall the
which was aroused when this
Union Railroad Company for in
.ance, and the city and State govern
lent, undertook to ge: together and sub
5itute a rapid transit trolley service for
funereal horses with their tinkling
ellis. IL we had believed all that
ur newspaper contemporaries told
5 at that time we should have
oncluded that the whole town was no
! arms against the introduction OF the
As a matter of fact we suspect