The record-union., 1896-04-19


cities. Half measures in a
matter of this kind will not satisfy the
country.
That is very true, now, but 1t has not
been for the last fifty years. The people
have been content with half measures
regarding the naval and fortification
defenses. It took the threat
of war to arouse US to the
full realization of the truth that
the nation well prepared for war is best
insured in peace. But this by no means
implies that 1t is necessary to main
tain vast standing armies. or call from
industry the flower Of the people to
serve in the ranks in times of peace. To
our system Of citizen soldiery add
strong Notifications well distributed
and naval force sufficient to command
respect and we are well prepared to
command the peace.
The Santa Rosa News" is away off.
The Record Union criticized the Jen-
kinsing spirit of certain of the press
that nose into the privacies of life
when a distinguished or public person
is to be married, or comes in any way
into something of prominence in the
public eye. The Record Union" ex-
pressed it's disgust that certain Of the
press went into the Jenkins" details of
Mrs. Dimmick's wardrobe when she be-
came the bride of ex-President Harri-
son. About the same time the news
dispatches contained somewhat ex-
tended reports Of the wedding ceremony
and social matters related to it. There
upon our contemporary takes us to
task for inconsistency because we pub
lished those dispatches. The Record
Union" has not, however, been CRITICS.
ing such reports. The report of the
wedding was not elaborate, nor was it
Of the Paul Pry and contemplate order.
However, the publication of the news
sent on by news agency of which a
newspaper buys service, in no wise
ing such dispatches. Heavens! if the
newspaper Of to-day is to trim it's ex-
preston according to the character of
the news agency dispatches it pub
fishes, there would be no such thing as
editing at all, as the paper would be
edited at the other end of the line. Right
here let us correct our contemporary in
another matter, namely, sharp, crisp,
energetic. indignant. protesting criti-
cism is not scolding. The scold is a per-
tinacious wrangling, snarling, fretful
fault-finder; the persistent grumbler
and all that. But 1t is not scolding to
rap error sharply, and to keep at it.
To rebuke the impertinent, expose the
false and stand for the decent and
cleanly cannot be contorted into scold-
ing, by even so keen witted a newspaper
as our esteemed contemporary.
The Grass Valley Union" proceeds
to call the advance agent Of dramatic
company "liar," and to justify itself
Oh the basis Of a dramatic criticism Of a
performance of the company taken from
the columns Of the Record Union, "
saying that 1t can rely upon the criti-
cisms Of this paper, which it recognizes
as sound, able and true always. We
feel complimented, Of course, by our
contemporaries opinion. But really it
- ~,
quarreling with the advance agent of a
theatrical company. That soldiery is
employed to boom things, and abuse
critics who do not see in their troupes
all things rose-colored.
The Oroville Mercury" says:
AS the Republican candidates for nom
inatfon to the Presidency are sized-up,
that party seems to show an increased
respect for the Democratic party. Their
candidates, like their Congress, dimin-
ish when the public search-light is
thrown upon them.
We submit that such editorial writing
is stale and improbable. 1t has no
manner of effect upon the intelligent
reader. 1t is provincial, and of the time
VIXEN mere political slang counted for
something. Our contemporary Is too
intelligent and practiced to afford to in
duIge in such trivial gable.
The Plumas National" has this SEN
sble comment:
There appears to be an impression
that, by a recent decision, the
Supreme Court of this State has en-
larged the power of Superior Judges by
hading that such Judges have author
ity to set aside a verdict. AS we under
stand the law, Judges have always had
this power, except in cases OF acquittal
on a criminal charge. 1t Is
alleged that Judges may exercise their
discretion with reference to the verdict
fer the purpose of freeing rank GRIM
inals. True, but all experience teaches
that Judges are more inclined to a rigid
enforcement Of the law against GRIM
irals than are juries. Ii is in civil cases
where Judges have the widest field for
setting aside the verdict of juries. If, in
the opinion of the Judge, the facts ad-
duced at the trial, viewed through the
medium of the law, do not justify the
iury's verdict, he may set it aside. This
seems a necessary power, for there are
instances in which juries disregard
through extraneous influences, both law
and facts. When this disregard is pal
pable and fragrant. the Judge should set
the verdict aside and permit retria1 OF
the case.
The impression" to which our es-
teemed contemporary refers never ex-
listed anywhere utin the rattle Drained
sensational sheets of San Francisco.