The record-union., 1899-09-22
TIME TO CALL A HALT"

The Record Union is in hearty ac
cord with the Los Angeles Times
when it declares that it is time to call
a halt to the opposition in the press,
notably to the administration, otherwise
the Government of the Republio, by
those whose extreme expressions in
print must bear bitter fruits sooner Or
later The Times" we'll says;
That the American press creates and
sustains American public opinion is not
questioned, therefore the burden Of re-
sponsibility is on the men who control
the editorial utterances of that section
of the press mentioned. Such papers
freely charge imperialistic tendencies,
and even designs, on the part of the
party in power and at the same time
have no thought that these things are
true. If the matter ended there it
would be, in a measure harmless, but
1t rolls on in the channels Of trade,
manufactures and commerce, till every
ductuating phase always incident to
10 the work Of either, is seized upon as
resulting from our war policy by par
tisan ignorance, and exploited so often
and so freely that it's poison is grated
on the hearts and lives of these men.
TO wound them in a thousand ways long
after the careless writer's have forgot
ten the cause
All which is true. In their frenzy
to seize upon any and every thing ITO
obstruct and cripple the Administration
and bolster opposition these obstructive
press influences "coin fantastic false
hoods" out Of the notes of truth and
the barest suggestion of irregularity.
Though it is true that the nation is in
the white heat Of unexampIed prosperi-
ty, though 1t has a war on hand at the
same time, these marplots incite the
political flotsam and jetsam common to
and inseparable from our form of gov
ernment, to labor strikes and other dis
orderly demonstrations. until it is now
reported - and it may be true that
this element has sent it's viper fangs
abroad to inject its baneful influences
among returning soldiers"
Not content with flooding the country
with seditious documents and sending
TO the soldiery of the nation writings
which are intended to make them be-
tray the cause they are sworn to up
hold, and to create in their minds dis
trust of the government and of the
chiefs in charge of the Nations affairs,
passionate appeals to God are sent up
with wordy mouthing to sanctify the
effort TO compass the defeat Of our arms
and the dishonor of the flag.
Partisanship ordinarily excuses a
great deal of otherwise fragrant abuse,
because thoughtful people realize that
the heated partisan Is to be heard with
much allowance for feeling, and the in
satlable desire to down the party which
challenges his right to assume the
reins Of government. But in this mat
ter the offense runs beyond the borders
Of partisan contention, and becomes
offending of the most serious character.
Our contemporary eloquently and for
cibly says
But look, at the cost! The sense of
national responsibility obliterated in
millions of hearts, the love of country
shriveled to What is there in 1t for
me?" the sanctifled labors and suffer-
ings Of our farefathers clouded in the
gloomy shibboleth of yagrant ward
heelers. and the honor and glory Of the
flag trailed in the dust at the feet of
political demagogues, whose highest
aim Is, and always was, to usurp ex-
listing power for the money it would
give them. These awful consequences
must come - indeed are now here as
a result OF the unbridled falsehood and
venality of the opposition press; and
this leads TO the advice in the caption
Of this article, is 1T not high time to call
a halt? The men herein arraigned, If
charged individually with these helm
Gus acts, would resent the charge, yet
daily, through their columns they fos-
ter a species of semi-treason in the
hearts Of their political followers that
must bear this dire return for the many
blessings the government has preserved
to them.