The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-09
a CASE oF sE1F-AocusATroN.

In the exigencies of present demand
it often happens that daily newspaper,
however carefully or conscentiously it
may be conducted, finds itself bordering
on injustice to the Individual No such
paper will in any such event hesitate to
make right a wrong thus done, when 1t
Is pointed out. But when a paper shows
elaboration in course which cannot
commend itself to the unprecedented read
er, its attempts to palliate it's own mis-
conduct. or to establish by vain self
praise its superiority over all such weak
nesses or remissness, it too often gets it
self laughed at, without carrying convic-
ton even to the minds of it's friends.
The Clio e fears that its somewhat
shifty contemporary, the NIinneapo is
Times, places itself in such a position
regarding the trial now In progress in
the adjacent city, wherein young man
stands confronted with the most serious
punishment known to the law. We do
not know what attitude it is which our
question of the guilt or innocence of Mr..
Hamilton. But it takes occasion to make
editorially the following statements.
among others, in its issue of Yesterday:
Hackneyed as is the quotation, it is so
apt that we may be pardoned for saying
that this paper will set down naught in
malice, naught eXtenuate." It goes with
out saying that the testimony favorable
to the defense will be given as fully and
as accurately as any which may be in
troduced on behalf of the prosecution. OF
one thing the public MAY rest absolutely
assured: The Times will not try the case
OF The State versus Frank Hamilton in
It's news or editorial columns. 1t will not
print hearsay evidence, nor give form
and substance to the gossip of curb and
corridor. parlor and kitchen. 1t will not
violate the sancttty of any home nor aid
any scandal monger in wreaking private
vengeance and making his or her mouth
lngs public property.
If these statements are not designed
as an apology for something when the
Times has done or omitted in connection
with lamentable event of public con-
Germ, what can be its object? It certainly
cannot be designed to carry conviction
to the minds of its friends or of the
friends of either prosecution or defense
in the pending trial, of the entire up
righteousness of our contemporary Ie
this latter should be the case, however,
it must be regarded as wholly g.atu;tou5
since no newspaper with any pretentions
whatever to public favor would be found
Going or avoiding the things which it
says it will do or avoid
If our contemporary has made the mis-.
take of showing any partially, slight or
great, In favor of one whom it says
was a former employee, there will be a
great many ready to pass the circum-
stance over as an entirely human pro-
ceeding. Its apology or explanation viii
not help it in the slightest. There is
a saying as stale. perhaps. as any which
our contemporary presents in It's own
extenuation, which is to the effect that
he who excuses accuses. The statement
in the original is, we think, French, ard
1t has all the appositeness which French
saws usually have. We commend 1t to
the study of our contemporary, as sug-
costing the advisability of following the
policy of keeping its editorial mouth shut
during the tendency Of the trial in CUES
ton