The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-05-22
ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS

just criticism OF public officials is
always right and proper, and is one of
the Safeguards of government, and
always assists in The preservation of
good conduct upon the part of tiose
whose duty it is to discharge pubii,:
duties.
1t is one of the great blessings OF a
1rce people to have freedom of The press
where the conduct of those who are Tie
custodlans of public affairs cam he k2p,
constantly under the eye or tie pubic.
This IS the highest guarantee oi !, pure
and wise government.
The criticism is, However. often l,t
down to low plane, and the officers Of
government become the Objects of low
abuse, and are held up to the nib!i: n,
objects of scOrn and contempt. Simply
because they dare to differ froin ,l:c
! opinion and sentiment OF those who ow,,
anu publish newspapers. Tho discus
sion now going on in the newspapers
over the gold and silver question n;,s
gone beyond tic bounds Of al ,ieccncv.
Nothing has been lelS un"rittpn
Which an abusive vocabulary could
dictate; no language. however low and
unreiincd, has been omitted from tue
discussion, and the press OF tie cauntr,.
haS become the medium Through which
new abusive epithets have irc.! uriri-
mated i'll this heated discussion.
- far has this abuse been carried tiE,t
very little credencc can DC given 10 any
statement of facts which en,i.:a;rs from
the press in the discussion oc these
great subjects, and the reader ot news.
| DIDerS hecOn,o Tttnri'; h"Nvi!,l,,. Ia, -
elimination and recrimn&..:sI - tie
order Of the day, and no cha:# ';"., how
ever high, is free from the h!ii !.:.;-4y:,>t
which day by day is pressed iorlh i"oA,
the press of the country.
Passions of the worst kind ":r tn;i>
stirred. and the stump orator and puh.i;'
! speaker are following tine cXA;np!r ul
| the press, and the publ" speaker uttcn
Uses language on the stump which
would not be tolerated OF cnhUrcl in
ordinary conversation between wrt.-
bred gentlemen.
Thus the two grca; educators oi tic
people, the press and the platform, ul
stump, are educating She people to (, low
order of public discussion. to il,tolcrauci
am! Il desire to lr fed Wl,uu Il Diet NHic;
| will produce puMjr distress Il ion5 fu~.
tered,
Tile recent abuse oi tIiv Secretary q.
the United States Trcarury aul TIE
President on account of t." lvnI lrallr-
actions of the treasury !, an illustration
of the extent to which abuse has brri
carried
n correct official life and stem .nicg,
! risy siuuugh life OF devotion 10 p,l,4i,
affairs has been worth nolhii@ 10 ,ilicc
these great officials ,rrM. allegations o
corrupt practices on tlicir part III th,,
transactions.
The abuse which has (rru hcapr,
upon them and the .soliln.rialianS hurled
against them are -, gross liE,t ,hVI iai
pOwerleSS at tllcir feet and u!y rrgaitie'
by the thinking people ~ the ruariMgs q
dlS@runtled and Lnapp,iuicd place
Seekers.
Again, StNs'cor 'Eiilitril ....l Govrrn,
Evans a.p being acc,.S" 4 hv the p,lH.
o' ilaE@.e proi&o' very large, i'll ,n' bon
'"'t"i "psS'' the states dcm WAS ~
"'"'' nd also with having rroiil'
'0'" .arily 10y dispe',S,ty lilUor sales
f thc,, allegations were irn& again
those hirh Officials. 10 dcn''n""''i'
40 would ls too hard and no puh'Hiii'i"
rs too severe, but yet th''} are in;"t" WI
'ni the production OF II" cNrtclir" To Nn>'i
rJ them. and upon deductions from pub
ry t.anactions which have no' even
u! shadow Of evidence 10 sustain thcih.
Ett
'"I Thus the United states and II:
me officials are hrld up to the contrihpt
'ln the public. and if crcdcncr con." a'W;
'"' le riyrn 10 the uttcrdncc oI t"c lr
and stump speakers no ronlidenc" G"
bc rcposcd in any public oiii"cf.
for The press anil I'll" pian""N .
nm ii,r.; n in,.', ~ i..,~. asa iiw,i r'''
'"' and h,.,r,r, nj, iuiur\ Which il viii