The record-union., 1896-10-17
A JOURNALISTIC DRAB.

The San Francisco Examiner"
of the gutter, has for a long time been
engaged in the most scurrilous and Ii
belous assaults upon Congressman
Grove L. Johnson of this city by en-
ployment of the weaponry of carica-
ture. This drab Of San Francisco jour
nalism, lost to decency, resorts to the
vulgar and witless cartoon in a vain
endeavor to bring Mr.. Johnson into rid
icule by the meanest Of the weapons
of offense.
While this method of assault can only
result in good to Mr.. Johnson, since de-
cent men resent all such means, even
when employed against those from
whom they politically differ, the OBJ
scene, vulgar and scurrilous attacks Of
the Examiner constitute an insult
to the whole people of Sacramento,
among whom Mr.. Johnson has so many
years resided, and where he commands
the respect and esteem of his fellow-cit-
izens.
Sacramento had never been honored
mall State history until the selection of
Mr. Johnson for Congress, by one of her
people being chosen to represent the
Second District, though she is and al
ways has been the most considerable
community in the district. Sacramento
has again preferred Mr. Johnson, and
ILL.,
trict support of his candidacy, because
he has proved to be in all respects a
true representative, and because his
ability has already given him national
prominence in affairs of the Republic,
and thus brought the whole district into
new Importance.
The assault, therefore, upon her dis
tinguished and faithful citizen becomes
an attack upon our people, it's gross
ness and vulgarity offending all de-
cency, manliness and respectability
These cartoons, in which the lewdness Of
the Examiner delights, since they
crafty it's gross tastes, are brutal and
obscene-more than that, they are cow
ardly. The honest and conscientious
opponent does not fear an open field
and fair fight, but even the most cour-
ageous and self-sacrificing abhors the
contamination that results from contact
with, such antagonists.
The cartoons which delight the small
soul of the Examiner embrace in their
malicious and libelous character an
other gentleman who was an old-time
citizen of Sacramento, and who is re-
lated to the most important era of pro-
gressive and industrial California, Mr.
c. p. Huntington. The enviable record
of G. p. Huntington's service in the
building and development of this State
viii live in history ages after memory
of the ulcerous caluminator that rails
at him in caricature has been swallowed
by oblivion. These filthy scandal
Gus characterizations of Mr.. Hunting
ton in caricature utterly fail OF intended
effect, since they not only disgust men
whose esteem is worth having, but their
mendacity is so patent that they defeat
any ends their authors may have in
view They can bring neither Mr.
Huntington nor Mr.. Johnson into dis
repute, or rob them of an iota Of the re-
gard of their fellow-citizens.
Those who know anything whatever
Of public thought and expression are
well aware that these gross and obscene
caricatures serve only to excite con-
tempt for the agency that employs
them, and to quicken regard for those
against whom they are aimed. Mr
Johnson gains votes by the 'Exanin-
er's'' methods. Whenever that news
paper strumpet. which is making a
swift descent from confessed venallty
to obscurity, lampoons Mr.. Johnson. II
makes votes for him among decent anc
self-respecting people. He might wei
wish, therefore, that the sheet thai