The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-12-15
DISREPUTABLE JOURNALISM.

out TO different public officials without
any foundation whatever TO back up
their insinuations. This kind Of jour
nalism usually shows some editor WELD
ing his pen with terrible case Of dys-
pepsia, and in the grand finish brings
him TO grief. 1t is all right and GER
tainly is each mans privilege 10 have
his own opinion in politics, also other
matters, and 10 express them. 1t is an
old saying that man never amounts 70
anything without some opinion Of his
own. II is the one who has always got
something up his sleeve, but never lets
il out, that we are getting at" The
exposure and denunciatiOn Of wrong
doing is one Of the duties Of the press.
To this the Herald does not refer. It's
criticism is Of the paper that hints and
threatens, and the criticism is entirely
just. No paper accOmplishes anything
Of good by limiting at corruption and
threatening 20 expose it. Such conduct
il inspired, not by desire to accom-
pli3h good results, but either by personal
spite, desire 10 receive hush money or
10 attract attention. Such motives can
not be too strongly denounced Such
men cannot receive too much contempt.
They do no good and do not desire 20 do
good They do harm for some kind Of
personal gain They rarely gain money
by such course, and they lose every
thing else Jacksonville Times-Union.
The True Democrat most emphatically
approves and applauds every word Of
the foregoing, and commends the i'm.
piled rebuke to every one Of its State
contemporaries 70 which it applies.
THE exposure and denunciation Of
wrong-dOing" has been one Of the lead
ing features Of The True Democrats
deliberately adopted policy from the
date Of its first issue 10 the present
time, and will continue 90 be until such
time as the people are sufficiently
aroused to a just comprehension Of the
conditions that have prevailed in the
public service Of the State, and proper
realization Of the positive necessity of
correcting the abuses that have been
denounced and Of choosing representa-
tivcs TO the State Legislature who are
public spirited and fearless enough TO
punish those whose guilt can be proven,
and to 80 adjust governmental affairs
that there can be no repetition in the
future of the shameful occurrences
which have disgraced the Democratic
party Of the State and brought re-
proach upon its people.
We need only refer to our pages,
from the first issues TO the present, for
conclusive proof that we have, to the
best Of our ability performed the car
1inal duty Of free and conscientious
press referred to by the Times Union
N the foregoing clipping. We have
plainly described the wrongful acts
hat have been committed designated |
beyond the possibility Of misapprehen-
ion those who have been guilty thereof
md cited our readers to the records
which present the evidences Of wrong
loing
In the performance Of this sacred |
luty we gladly and gratefully acknowl-
,dge the generous and effective support
which we have received from many of
,ur most esteemed contemporaries, and
,ur only regret is that other newspapers
n the State have refused or failed to
adopt course 40 universally regarded !
Is the chief function Of fearless, pa
rotic and untrammeled press We
AN readily understand how the attitude
# silence on these vital topics or of
pen defense of the accused - should be
appropriate TO newspapers whose own
'rs are personal adherents or past ben
,ficiarics Of those whose official acts
nave been exposed and condemned, or
hat the hope OF future favors may in
lucnce thor conduct; but just why a
presumably independent and ostensibly
public journal, posing as the
friend Of the people. should diligently
"A pointed and profound silence
ipon matters so nearly ard vitality Rf-
Getting the public and political interests
# the people, atior the proots of shame
id II not criminal crookedncss hare :
,ccn mate public IN detail, is entirely /
beyond our comprehension /
We desire TO add one word more with .
reference especially to the remark Of
he Times Union quoted above concern
my "hush money" by stating that The
True Democrats recent experience /
positively confirms that newspapers i'm
iimation to the effect that such things
4 Al