The record-union., 1896-03-02
CONCERNING THE MAILING OF
LIES.

The San Francisco Wave" in the
course of a caustic review of the un-
charitableness, viciousness and mali
cious persistence of the assaults upon
the Southern Pacific Company and the
railroad people generally, declares these
attacks are largely due to two causes,
namely, that they have been for years
persisted in without much resistance on
the part of the assaiIed until large
number of the people Of California
have accepted them as true on the
ground that charge made and not re-
futed is taken as confessed. Secondly,
that the railroad people have not, as
they might have done, nailed every lie
as soon as it showed its head. Why
this has not been the policy of the
railroad managers puzzles the Wave,
and it's judgment, it thinks, reflects the
thought of many others.
There is a possible measure of truth
in this statement, but there is sufficient
reply to be made to it. It is the ex-
perience of most business in California
cinching syndicate of demagogues are
alike, in that, if denial is made of the
charges of either, it results only in the
birth of a fresh brood of larger and
more vicious falsehoods. That, in
short, it is simply useless to attempt to
deal with such liars, and that the true
policy is TO allow the truth to vindicate
itself.
Secondly, any business assailed by
such influences in California that at
larger part of it's time and energy de-
voted to replies and vindHcations to the
neglect Of its legitimate interests. But,
as a matter of fact, the lies of the un-
scrupulous press and the demagogic en-
emies of the railroad people have been
replied to and shown up over and over
again, and the result has been, invari-
ably, that the assaults were renewed as
if there had been no denial.
In and about every railroad case
where the truth has pinned mendacity
to its cross, the turn has been made of
assailing motive and denying the wit
ness. Now to this sort of contention
there is neither end nor reply. When
a lie is nailed, when sufficient reply to
mendacious assault is made, and the
assailant retorts by impugning the mo-
tive Of the assailed and denying its ca
pacity, there is nothing more TO be
said. The wise thing in such cases is
to trust to the vindication Of truth by
itself.
We are of the belief that there might
well have been more and repeated re-
turn of blows. and that the railroad
people might have well kept the sword
Of truth unsheathed and in constant
thrust; but we are conscious, also, that
there is strength in silence after once
exposing falsehood. and in reliance
upon the justice Of a cause. But really
the one sweeping and perhaps con-
elusive answer to the criticism of the
Wave which railroad managers could
make is this: 1t is absolutely useless to
attempt to wiring truth from the un-
scrupulous press, or crowd a word Of
verify into it's columns. It feeds upon
every denial and vindication for the
production of new batch of viperish
untruth. It never has been abashed by
reproof OF driven or coaxed into frank
acknowledgment of error. 1t has but
one rule as its guide, make the other
fellow squeal, never admit that you are
in error and for each denial of a charge
reiterate the old story with increased
vehemence."
There has been a recent and signifi-
cant instance Of this. On Thursday
last J. c. Stubbs of the Southern Pacific
Company was a witness before the
House Committee on Pacific Railroads.
In his testimony Mr.. Stubs gave fiat
and emphatic contradiction TO certain
industriously circulated falsehoods that
have run current in this State for many
years despite repeated denials. The
rule in justice is that when one makes
charge and to it complete denial is
entered an issue is joined, the proponent
is then put to his proof, and until it is
made beyond all question the assailed
stands clear. But in the ethics Of the
mendacious press and the anti-railroad
phobists of California 1t is held that it
is sufficient to prefer charge and that
the assailed is TO be held guilty until
his innocence is by him established.
That is to say the accused must prove q
negative.
Nor does this rule Of conduct apply