The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-09
SATURDAY, FEB. ., 1901.
10 PAGES TO-DAY
THE INsoLENcE OF RING RULE.

Public criticism of public officials IS
appraised of the manner in which their
public servants are dseharging the
trusts confided to them. Men who are
hewing strictly to the line OF their duty
never fear criticism and never provoke It.
Whenever you hear people denouncng
the press for its outspoken criticism OF
men or measures you can rest assured of
one OF two thiugs-either those who OBJ
feet to such criticism are narrow. selfish
blgots or fanatics. or else there is some
thing rotten in Denmark"
The most fragrant exhibition Of impu-
dent rascality objectiDE to public criti-
cism OF public affairs. was probably FUR
nished the other day by the Philadelphia
grand jury. The municipal government
In that city Is one of the worst on earth.
It's rottenness ia denounced by the
reputable republican as woll as demo-
cratic press of Philadelphia s ring con-
trolls everything-co and iuries as
veil as municipal offices. But notwith-
standing their shamelessness tho ring
leaders have been winclng under the
press criticisms This IS the way their
grand jury pleads the baby act and seeks
to escape the just csstigatlon by the
press. In its report occurs the following:
We fear that the effect OF the continued
nnhlicatlon ~ our daily papers OF such
criticism on tho management OF city affairs
Will have a tendency to tniure the good
name OF what We believe 10 he one of the
ri fsf he "A
thereby the credit OF the city will suffer as
well as the interest OF our commercial com.
mnnity, A proper criticism ot official ac-
tons OF public officers Is right and proper
but continued holding UP TO tho public rldl-
gule, scorn and contempt NJ thosn who haVa
been elected to govern our city, certainly
does not have a tendency to Increase tho
respect with which the name of our city Is
mentioned. We therefore hope that In the
name OF justice and n continued municipal
prosperity this tendency on the part OF tho
public press may be curbed.
Here is rotten government pleading not
only for immunity from punishment. but
even from the resentment OF the citl-
zens. Having brought the city to a con
dition 20 excite the contempt OF the pub
lie these rlngsters now insist that moth.
Ing shall be said about 1t for fear the
good name, credit and commercial Inter
ests OF the city may suffer-
1t would be the same IL physician
should deliberately poison a natient and
then insist that any who knew of the
fact should keep silent so as not % in
lure his professional reputation,
Something OF this same sort ~ whine
however, is often heard in other cities
where certain class would prefer that
the worst conditions should prevail rather
than that the outside public shoud hear
OF them. They would rather suffer than
hear any one suggest a remedy. These
are the kind of folks who woull make
some communities whited sepulchres II
they could
The Philadelphia grand jury adds mn-
measured impudence. however. TO this
bad philosophy and worse policy It's
report is bosslsm's boldest and most Of
fensive aggression. But II will only ex-
elite further the contempt and the morc!-
less exeoriation by the Philadelphia press.
As showing what ring rule would do,
though, II it had the power. the report
becomes useful as public warning
everywhere