Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-25
VOICES OF THE PRESS.
Unjust Abuse Of Public Men.


While the disposition to criticise the acts
of public men is one with which no fault
need be found. so long as the criticism is
fair and is confined to legitimate topics.
yet a spirit seems TO be abroad. particu-
larry among photographers to follow the
examples of certain other papers and to
lose no opportunity by inuendo or by di-
rect attack to degrade public men in the
public mind. thus undermining the con-
tdence which is felt in the men who are
public servants. Often thus injustice is
done to honorable men. and their useful
ness decreased. 1t is time for a halt to
he called in this practice which is founded
only upon desire on the part of most
9th, of the guilty parties to say something
the justice of what is said.
AS illustrating the tendency to thus
thoughtlessly impugn the motives of and
cast slurs upon public men notice the
tendency of a large number of papers to
say only evil of such men as Thomas c.
Plat of New York and of Mark Hanna.
1t is to be observed regarding Mr.. Platt
that he has aroused the spirited antagOn-
ism of minority of his own party in his
state. and this minority enjoys the sup
port of one of the strongest papers of the
metropolis. the New York Tribune. which
has been moved by Il prejudice so strong
that it has come to believe the prejudice
to be an honest sentiment. This fact has
led lesser editors to take up the refrain
and readers have been taught that Mr..
Plan is the incarnation of all ennity to
good government. law and order. Such.
|
has been said about Mr.. Platt. the only
real fault that has been found with him is
in regard to his political methods. and
these have been initiated by his critics. so
far as it has been in their power so to do
at the same time that they We're turning
all their batteries upon him and his
methods. But Mr. Platt is a citizen who
deserves the respect of his fellow citizens;
he made mistake early in his career
when he antagonized Blaine. and with
Roscoe Conklin. resigned his seat in the
nj tn1 fnf 70 l,ttf rx-sf1 hot
ception his public and private life have, so
far as has been shown. been blameless.
The attempt to blacken the name OF
Mark Hanna has even less of foundation
than has the opposition to Mr.. Platt
Papers which were politically opposed to
Mr.. Hanna began raid upon his good
tor in national politics. These papers.
even while supporting Mr.. Hanna's cam
didate for the Presidency continued to
abuse him. and yet during all the months
in which he has faced the severest light
of publicity not word has ever been said
which really detracts from his worth as
a man or a citizen. This is not because
no attempt has ben made. for the New
York Journal. for example. in its OPPOSE
ton to him personally would have spared
nothing if it could have found reason up
on which to base its antagonism. When
Mr. Mckinlcy's election was made GER
tain the papers which had sought to les
sen the regard of the people for the
chairman tried to break down the re-
Spect for the President-elect by insinuat
ing that he is Mr.. Hanna's creature
They placed Mr.. Hanna in every seat in
the cabinet where, according to their
vivid imagination. he was to boss the adj
ministralion. The facts show that no
| such design has been harbored by Mr..
| Mckinley or the chairman. Mr.. Hanna
! is Il candidate for the United States Sen
ate from his own state, an ambition that
| It entirely laudable for place which he
| can ably fill.
Our public men are worthy of trust.
| The leaders of the Republican party are
| men who are entitled to the respect and
| confidence of their followers and il is
small business to daily try to detract
from their good standing before the pub
, lie. That the efforts have failed forms
no excuse for those who have made them