The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-25
Sticks to the Truth.


| Yesterday, at the meeting Of the Join,
sanitary committee from the commercial
exchanges. one member proposed that the
board of health should cease to announce
cases and deaths from fever, and
that the city press should refrain
from publishing any facts as to
the health situation, and by this
means confidence In the health of this
city would be restored. quarantine restric-
lions would be withdrawn and business
would commence at once.
Fortunately. thanks to the good sense
Of the committee, this absurd proposition
was not entertained, and 1t fell to the
ground OF its own back Of merit. That
proposition, however, is not without ad-
'ocates In this city, and 1t is worth while
10 snow how useless. and worse than USE
less. would be such a policy.
Inc board of health and the newspapers
nave been honestly declaring the health
conditions of the city daily for the past
SIX weeks To stop this policy of telling
the truth, without rhyme or reason, would
Dc simply an advertisement that the opsn
and honest course had been abandoned,
and that concealment and fasehood had
oeen adopted In place OF truth and candor,
Piainly the policy OF concealment would
not be enough to deceive the public, and
SO the press would have to be asked to
commence systematic course of lying to
PACK up the concealment. 1t may be set
down as an absolute fact that no such
consultation Of falsehood and treachery
between the press and the board Of health
can be concocted. But II 1t We're possible.
would II be believed?
suppose that the board OF health should
undertake to falsify the situation by de-
ciaring that there has been a Sudden and
marvellous disappearance OF fever, and the
newspapers should repeat the lie. Would
any of the people OF those towns and VII
lagos that have been shutting off with
their shotguns the mails and traffic of the
country believe IT, Does any sane person
IN this city believe that the wild-eyed
quick on-trigger quarantine guards in the
interior OF Louisiana and Mississippi would
drop their guns and welcome the trains
with passengers. mails and freight from
New Orleans?
How, too, about the New Orleans people
VINO have fled to the uttermost parts of
the Northern Statesf Would they come
nome on receipt OF lying reports? Would
their friends here suffer them to return
on the faith OF statements known to be-
iaise? Not bit of 1t. These absentees
would themselves advertise the real situa-
ton.
But would the correspondents of the
great New York and Chicago daily papers
enter the combine OF falsehood and tele-
grapn lying reports to their employers?
Who can believe that the correspondents
would lend themselves to such a policy
or that their employers would accept such
service?
Those citizens who. viewing matters
from standpoint OF twenty years ago.
think that any notorious public facts can
be concealed from the world In this age.
when nearly all secrets are being made
known. are fearfully benighted DO as thew
VIII, they can not carry cut their notions.
Ihey must take some account ct human
honesty, too. Not everybody can be per
suaded. or bribed, or bulldozed. into .
course OF deliberate lying.
In considering these matters. too mach
praise can not be given to some OF the
merchants who are cooperating with the
health authorities In this time OF trouble.
Their trade Is paralyzed. their businers il
cut on their large interests are suffering.
put they remain cool. calm and courageous
seeking to remove as far as 10 In their
power every obstacle TO trade; but when
these are beyond their power, they accent
the situation with philosophy. Such men.
by their honor. integrity, courage and ma
triotic public spirit prove themselves 10
pc the bu!warks OF their city's prosperity.
Their influence for good is enormous. their
example Is In itself benedaction.