The Washington times., 1895-05-23
IT WAS HONEST AND MANLY
The Times Complimented for It's
Prompt Explanation of an Error
Ambassador Patenotre, Rev. MIR, En-
mis-, Col. Webster. DR.. Kelly and
Capt. Armour Say Nice Things

'The reportorial blunder in Mondays
Times, in which the Rev. Howard Wilbur
Ennis was made to reflect on the character
OF the Frenclh Apbassadof, was an un-
fortunate occurrence" said Col Amos
Webster, a prominent member of the West
ern Presbyterian Church, yesterday, but
it has enabled that paper to give most
magnanimous and praise worthy illustra-
tion of the honofable spirit that should
characterize American journalism. Its
retraction aud eHpIaua ton in to-day's
issue, both locally aud editorially, proved
the manIlness That characterizes your
papers policy, and it must Increase your
prestige in thee community. 1t certainly
is satisfactory to the members OF the con-
gregation.
'I have no doubt that the reporter was
entirely houestin the matter, but in journal
ism, as in all other professions, mistakes
are liable to occur. Its seldom, however,
that they are reetified in the upright way
adopted by The Times"
The French Amba ssador, Nj Pateuntre,
with a characteristic shrug Of the shoulders,
said at the embassy last evening, that he
paid very little attention To the matter, as
he knew that there must have been a
mistake some where.
He declared that he had never IN his life
sought a retractiou from a ne ewspaper, but
that the voluntary retractiun OF The Times
was very pleasing to him, as il showed Il
fair and honorable spirit that was eredtted
TO Journalism. lie said he wished the
matter dropped, as IL was OF no couse-
queuce anyway.
Rev Mr Ennis himself said that the
statement in yesterdays issue, coming
as it did without any pressure from him
was surprising in its amplitude, and show ed
that The Times was all upright and faiT
newspaper.
''It was manly in the extreme, said he,
''and gives the public better than any thing
else could, an insight into your clean and
thoroughgoiDg policy. In this nineteenth
century a man looks for fair play and is
gratified when he gets it. l believe the
! reporter innocent, especially since | have
learned his general reputation for reliabll-
ity, and am JUST now wondering by what
psychological process that sentence got
into his head or got embodied ia his note
book. Some one suggested that perhaps
Z
it, but / trust my sermons are not as
enc rvatfng as that It would be un-
complimentary both to the reporter and TO
NJ yself.
Il do not like continued Mr.. Ennis,
Ito be included in the category of sensa
tioDaI preachers Neither my cOnsrega
tioD nor myself countenance sensational
ism OF any kind. / Believe in the strong,
vigorous preaching Of the Word and a dc
T In no tfl
ing the evils that bcset society. You can
not handle things evil with kid glove,
for. as has often been declared a kid glove
. is u non-conGuctor, and therefore cannot
/ help in the generation of the electric. life
! saving fluid OF honest purpose, which Is
/ the death of social diseases. In the pulpit
/ as in Journalism. truths can be told and
evils corrected without going down IL
i the mud, and it is in that way that pro-
/ pose to tell the one and 10 do the other
The Times ha S shown by it's strong editorial
{ TO day that that is its polcyy also, and N
/ conclusion let me again thank IL fer It's
manly position"
nr. Kelly, oAesof the trustees of the
/ church was present duTiug tine interview
with Rev. Mr.. Ennis, and in'iorsed eyery-
| thing he said He sfded st,sne compliments
of his own on the bestraightforwar position
taken by The 1InR@s-
Can't. Robert amour, another leading
member of the congregation aHd pForI
incrt citizen, said Z when newspaper
or an indiyiduil lmakes a mistake ths
proper, foir and Eonorahle thing 10 do J;
10 apologize for it. 1t takes some cour
age 10 CO 20, and II Is lot courage oI Il
KID commonly met with. Blit Ihe Times
has shown thateit POSSESSES It TO an hhf
common degree by. ITS clearly y-wurted eci
torisl this nToriiilEs and lis full eHplana
ton in the local columns. There Was nc
crawling out OF an awkward position
10 bait apology hidden away III an oh
scure corner or ne paper, llst EtT5',gnt
forward, manly retraction. posted i'll us
biggest window, the editorial column
vnere everyone Gould see it. | CougratH
late The Times Oh u e Ioaeesstou OF sGef
a onHiuIcndable spirit.
OtAer members OF he congregation o
the western Presbyterian thuich spt'k,
IN ~ similar I strslIII.