The times., 1898-10-09
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1898.
Carrion Crow Journalism.

Never before in the history of the
National Capital has there been such
an exhibition of carrion crow local
journalism as was presented yesterday.
for the deIectation of such citizens as
certain publishers must have assumed
would delight in seeing a full meal of
unhappy scandal disgorged upon the
hearthstone Of a home that every
American is bound. by the commonest
instincts of decency and patriotism, to
defend and keep inviolate.
Friday evening, just as the sweet and
gentle woman who, by virtue of her po-
sition is the first lady in the land, was
entering upon the performance Of a
social duty incident to her station, news
was received in Washington that
great sorrow had befallen her. The
story was known to the press and many
outsiders hours before it came to her
ears But, even before the sad intelli-
gence was conveyed to those most in
terested, the ghouls were mixing their
yellow paint and dancing in hideous
glee to think that there was a dead
body to carve up, and a miserable past
to tell Of in scare head lines-the whole
thing being only of interest to the evil
minded, and to them alone, because the
victim OF the tragedy happened to be
related to a family Of the most exalted
position in our country.
Whatever may be said of the taste
displayed by out-of-town papers in
giving prominence TO the matter in
question, We do not believe there is a
right-mnded man or woman in this
community who viii not agree with the
proposition that at least one citizen
who lives among US is entitled to have
his home and his dear ones protected
during his term of residence, from
every breath Of scandal and every in
cident of modification. for the exist
ence or occurrence of which he and they
are in no possible way responsible.
American notions of what is decent
and dAcorous are in a state of total
eclipse, if carrion crow journalism is to
be permitted 10 exploit the shortcom-
ings and peccadillos of persons whose
life. adventures and taking off al
together would not be given a one stick
notice with a one line head in any
of their stories. A poor, unfortunate
woman somewhere. anywhere, kills a
man, and. If there be an enterprising
correspondent in the place, she attains
the fame of the briefest possible men
ton in the reports of the press associ-
ations. But, let il be discovered that
she, or the object of her anger, is re-
lated or connected with ANYBODY of
financial, social, or political prominence,
and carrion crow journalism takes her
up and promotes her and her crime to
the first column Of the first page, and
displays and double leads her to the
joy of all and singular those who re-
j0ice VIXEN filth can be successfully
flung at innocent people, whose only
sin lies in the fact that they occupy
conspicuous positions in the community.
We take this opportunity earnestly TO
protest against continued liberation of
carrion crow journalism in the city of
Washington. 1t is disgraceful alike to
printer and reader. To the latter it is
a dirty affront, because it carries the
assumption that he or she will reveI in
any prurient attempt to smirch the
antecedents and to wrench the bleeding
hearts Of distinguished families among
US. Under conditions such as those
under consideration, they are in a sense
the guests of the city and the nation,
and the people Of Washington are their
hosts, at least to the extent of a duty to
protect them against comman scandal
mongers.