New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26
"PTRLICITY."

| Far be Il from us to deny what Is 80 vigor-
ously and persstently asserted by newspapers
| Of a certain class, that the most effective nstru-
mentality for bringing evildoers TO justice. pun
ishng crime, promoting public and private
morals and making the whole world purer and
| sweeter and filter to live IN Is Publicity The
experiment is now on trial, and we not dis
| posed to interrupt its progress. though we feel
| bound to say that up to date the elevating,
purifying and sweetenng effect upon the COM
munity or society at large has not been marked.
| This may be, however. because the journals
| which prescribe Publicity as a panacea for the
| body polite have been administering 1t in allo-
| pathc doses and have compounded with It I'M
| stinted mendacity.
While we are waiting to see whether the eff
feet Of loud wide and open-mouthed Publicity
upon all subjects is really elevatng and emo
bling. one or two practical questions occur to
us In connection with the war which these news
papers are SO vigorously prosecuting and how
1t may be affected by the generous disclosures
which they are making to all the world, in
Guiding possible armed foes, Of existing condl-
tons throughout the country bearing upon the
ability Of the Government to prosecute offensive
or defensive war. 1t has always been under
to carrying on war successfully; that one Of the
most important considerations was to keep from
the enemy all knowledge Of the preparations,
plans and purposes. the instrumentalties, means
and methods by which he was to be met and
II possible overcome. But that is not the idea
Of the Publicity press. They believe In disclos-
ing everything in large type and bloodred ex-
tras from the housetops. Not long ago one Of
hot ptoti
to make drawings Of the defences ut Sandy
Hook for publication. Within the last two or
three days another was caught sneaking around
the Winchester establishment mt New-Haven.
trying to gather Information concerning the ca
pacity Of the works, number Of men employed.
the nature Of contracts under fulilment. etc
And he too, was taxing Photographic views OF
the works and the surroundings for publication
In both instances the enterprislng newsga her
ers and sensation -mongers were collared and
led away, which was not quite in accordance
with the theory that Publicity IS the safety
valve Of the Nation
Another illustration Of the methods by which
these newspapers procure the Information which
they spread abroad in poster type for the pro-
motion OF the general welfare was furnished nv
the performance Of one OF their representatives
at Washington the other day, who accostcd the
Spanish Minister as he was leaving the State
Department and began plying him with imperti-
nent questions These were at first colIrteously
turned aside. but the sensation hunter. nothing
daunted, pursued the unfortunate diplomat into
the elevator and out into the street. until the
latter lost his temper and turned upon bis tor
mentor with perfectly natural though some
what vigorous expression OF opinion of his con
duct. The sensation hunter had so little sense
OF shame that he wrote out a full report Of the
interview and sent 1t to his employers. and his
employers had so little regard for their own
reputation and his as to print it.
All these things are done ostensibly in the in
terest OF Publicity Well, 1t may be that il pro
notes the general welfare and discouraces
wrons-doers. but We cannot help saying that 1t