Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-16
SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

A western contemporary speaking
OF morality in business" takes occa-
sion 10 ask, among other things. How
pleased would the public be II a news
paper told the plain truth about every
thing and everybody; said q public
speaker, was dun If he was dull; re-
marked that this ball or that dinner
was a frost II It was such; described
a Judge as a fool II he was a fool2"
other questions are asked as TO
what the consequences would be, II
clergymen should tell all they know
or what would become of political can
didates, II they spoke nothing but the
truth, and the whole truth.
We can appreciate the sentiments
that prompt such questions, but be-
hind them It is easy to discern mis-
understanding OF the obligations OF
public writer's and speakers. It GER
talnly Is their duty TO be truthful In
all they say, or do, but that does not
mean that they must tell everything
they hear about everybody; even II
rumor is based on facts. Unless some
public good can be gained thereby, the
repetition OF gossip Is condemnable
An artist who desires TO exhibit
his reproductions to the public, Is
doing only his duty when he turns the
reverse side OF his paintings TO the
n sl 81 Ia,
the best possible light, and within APP
propriato frames. Truthfulness does
not require him 10 turn every picture
over and over again, I'm order to give
the spectators a view also OF the rough
canvass and the back OF the frame. In
the same way, the tourist who visits a
palace, does not consider the guide
dishonest because he does not show him
the receptacles for garbage ard thoir
contents, in addition to the other
features Of the buildings and the
grounds. They may, indeed form
subject of profitable study TO special
lists. but the general public is looking
for something else.
These are but Illustrations OF the
self.evident truth that honesty does
not require the exposition Of every.
thing there is everywhere to full pub
lie view. The fact IS that writer's and
orators who assume that their busl-
ness is to EXPOSE" all they hear and
all they think they know are doing
more harm than good
There Is a class OF newspapers that
have assumed the functions Of the old.
time village gossip that used 10 go from
place to place and tell tales about
everybody and give everybody a black
I character But that class is speedily
becoming contemplate IN the estima.
/ ton OF all right-minded men ana wom-
en-. II is perfectly well understood that
It IL an easy task for yellow journal.
ism" to bespatter any mans character,
until II appears 1T only for the gutter.
The mere whisper Of scandal Is sudi-
Client to that class to furnish long COLI
umns OF sensational stories" under the
blacklist Of headlines All such "en-
terprise is excused under the pretenso
Of telling the truth" but It is never
theless ccudemnable In the highest de-
gree,
Public men are necessarily undcr the
searchlght OF publicity, as far as their
public acts are concerned They are
Justly subject to criticism. adverse or
otherwise, because as officers they are
the servants Of the public The press.
when II confines Itself 10 such criticism.
Is within the boundaries OF its duty.
but when It goes beyond this and In
trenches upon territory that IS not pub
lie, il becomes no better than a gossip
/ and scandal-monger
About year ago the editor OF New
York paper favored the public with
some confessions regarding the meth
DDS Of yellow journalism He said
among Taer things that no person Is
too exalted IN character or otherwise,
10 be he victim Of that class Of four
nolism lie quoted the contumcly that
was poured cut upon the memory Of
Andrew X. Green, when he was muf-
dercd, and IN this connection he said.
Knowing all that his lie has been.
| knowing how his time nad been spent
/ lor so many years In daily association
/ with and the administration OF public
Affairs ana splendid enterprises know
/ ing. in fact. the whole scheme of his
| time and thought, 1t was not in us to