The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-18
Yuaaow JoUnxAI.IsM or EARLY
DAYS.

~
DAYS.
The infamous attacks upon Mckinley.
beth BY innuendo on the part Of public
nson aud By the vile newspapers which
have not scrupied at anything In their
inaatiabie greed. are not new feature
ID American history. II forms one OF
the most shameful phases Of the life OF
the republic. The freedom OF the press
which has done 20 much to mold .
healthy public sentiment has been
abused by slanderers To further their
own selfish purposes.
Nobody now harbors = suspicion that
George Washington was ever guilty OK
4 corrupt thought or an ignobie pur-
posc. Yet In his lifetime. and during
some OF the most trying periods Of his
career. he vas subjected 90 just such
assaults upon his character and his
motives as those OF which Mckinley
has been victim. Washington was
almost subliuely indifferent TO unjust
criticism. and although he was fire.
auently assaiicd. he very rarely ever
alluded 20 the fact. Indeed IL Is OBJ
ssrvable throughout his correspondence
that even at times when We know he
must have been aware az the vile
abuse, his language was always digni-
flea and patient. At rare times he
would become indignant. and on one
notable occasion he said it was to be
lamented that the editors Of the differ
emf Rasettes In the Union should stuff
ti,eir papers with scurriiity and non
ssnsical Reclamation. Al another time
he expressed the belief that there would
never be any serious danger OF the peo-
pie going wreng II they were only
fully informed. He saw that the mis-
chief wrought by the newspapers was
due to falsehood and interested deceit.
II In one OF the blots upon the repnta-
ton OF jefferson that for purely per-
sonal motives and political ambitions.
he did no. scruple TO attack Washing
ton through the press. lie accused
Washington OF being bent on establish
ins q monarchy In this country. and
that he was backed by corrupt squad
ron In congress In the pay Of the
treasury. This MAS utter rubbish. as
Lodge describes IT, but II served Its
purpose. jefferson was undoubtedly
af the back OF the National Gazette.
which cearsciy abused the president
jefferson denied that he had anything
to do with 1t. bat freneau. the editor,
I'm his old age. declared that Jefferson
w-ste the abusive articles. and he ex-
htbited with pride file af the Gazette
with these articles marked. Washing
toa kept his splendid seif-possessson.
and In q letter 20 Jefferson he said he
needed no proofs OF Jefferson's fidelity
To tho constitution. but appealed 10 him
not 10 let personal feelings interfere
with the great ohject they both had in
view. lie expressed n wish that "the
cup which has been presented TO us
nay no, be snatchssi from our lsps by
q discors;anee OF action. when | am
,ssrsuaded there Is no aiscoraance In
eur visws."
During the revolutionary war, while
Washington was forging his way To the
~. - xk.>x A..
made In. mark for ISLANDER and abuse
10 which he was too busy TO pay at
sentson. When he was constructing the
eivn fabric OF the republic II was no,
always policy 20 ignore II. So hong as
the attacks were fsaerviy personal NJ
paid no attention. but when shey
threatened 70 jeapsrdize the success oi
hts werk he struck hack. In ere Of bis
letters. he said;
THAT there are In this m welt as In a.
ether countries asscont~nses characters.
are aetaased by very asffsrent views. sanss
Uood. fyem an opsason that tho genera
snsasnFss Of she government are impure
tome bad. ard Il might be allowed I. uss
- hAssa ~ expression sslseosieal. tnas
mitch ~ they are noe oasy means TO isr.
pssie the measures OF thar government
generally, bur more specially. IS = srsal
means scwAra the accomplishment 81 ~
% destroy the confidence xhxa IL Is neses-
aasy Ser thr pscasc 80 place. uassi thes
have uneaesve<al procs % sismersf In shss,
public servants"
Ne, enly jefferson bat Adams And