The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-04-22

no dignity to uphold. either personal
or official, II the maintenance OF the
semblance Is Incompatible with the
wishes, denoted generally in advertis-
ing schemes, OF their patrons OF the
press; for relations OF patronage have
been renewed, although places have
been changed, since yellow journalism
came into power, and instead of the
editor sitting meanly in the ante.
chamber Of the politician, we have
the mean politician waiting humbly
IN the outer Office Of the l0rdly editor.
These h0wlers for war, and for blood,
which better men will shed, have not
only promoted corruption and clevat-
ed ignoblc men to high positions, have
not only been the most potent in
ilucnccs in driving good men out of
public life, but they have never hesi-
tatcd to defy the law, nor, when they
have been unable to discover Il hidden
truth that might dscredit their cOun-
try. have they hesitated to invent lies
that would serve the same end.
They are now urging the country
into war, bOastfully proclaiming that
they can compel it, for the single pur.
pose OF making money by increasing
their sales. Judging from their con-
duct in the past and present, what
would be their attitude in case war
should unfortunately come? They
would OF course, remain the enemies
OF every decent man in public life, the
inventors OF sensations, the authors
Of lies when the truth failed to con.
tain sufficient spice for their depraved
tastes. They would at once set at
work an army OF spies, whose business
it would be to worm out all the Sc
crets Of the war. These spies would
sneak into the public offices ard into
the tents OF the commanding generals
OF the army. They would resort to
the meanest and most fashionable SUBJ
tcrfugcs to attain their ends and earn
their pay. If by bribery or other
base devices they could obtain IA plan
Of campaign, they would not hesitate
to publish it in their newspapers. Ii
they could steal their way into secret
defenses, they would publish plans
of them. The fact that the publica-
tions would lead to the defeat OF our
own armies or the capture Of our own
strongholds would not deter them
from printing what they call the
news. They would as willingly be.
tray the enemy as their own country,
it is true, but that is rs far as their
patriotism would carry them. Their
ignorant and foolish criticisms OF the
conduct Of the war would affect popu-
lar opinion, which they would direct
against every self.respecting officer
who treated them as they deserved TO
be treated, and against every capable
officer whose movements were not
quick enough or sensational enough to
whet the appetite for newspapers.
This is one OF the problems with
which our government will be called
upon to deal in case of war, and it
must be confessed that 1t Is SO difficult
as to make successful war almost i'm
possible. This country would find the
lying newspapers in the rear quite as
formidable as the armed troops and
navieS In front.
~
II war shall come, it will be fought
by the men who love their country for
the blessings OF peace which have fol-
lowed the establishment OF the re-
public, for the public virtue and en-.
lightenmcnt for which it stands, for
It's dIUulIluClUS WI uuHIdH IluCiIs anu
human progress; by the men now ST.
lent and apprehensive, who look for
ward with an intelligent appreciation
Of what may come; by such men as
those now at the head OF affairs in
both the civic and military branches
OF the government. These are the
men who come to the surface Of
American life in every dangerous
crisis and sturdily bear its burdens,
only to retire, we regret to say, after
the crisis is over, to leave the field to
the mouthing boosters whose noise
may have produced the crisis, and
whose aim will certainly be to make
all the money possible out Of the mis-
cry and the suffering Of those whom
they are now insulting, and upon
whose strength and fidelity depend
always the safety and welfare OF the
country.
Here Is a story at his own expense