New-York tribune., 1906-10-08
THE SLANDERBUND.

The candidate who is running for office on
policy named after his newspaper American
ism has. we think, chosen wisely and well thc
designation of his politics. The only possible
alternative TO "Americanism' that could have
been in his mind is, Of course, Journalism,
ana we are glad for the sake of our own proies-
sion that its name was not appropriated TO such
Uses. our country can better stand the mpllca-
tion than our profession. Besides, for the can
didate there is a helpful element Of solemn hum
bug about the patriotic suggestion OF the title;
for some guileless souls viii fall into the mis-
take of suppOsing that "Americanism' gets lis
name not from The American" bur from
America, whereas in reality the policy OF vitu-
perating ones self into office is named most
httingly after the organ of the Slanderbund.
The master OF the Slanderbund is not
pioneer in the art of vituperating ones way into
public Importance. lie had predecessors. Most
and Debs blazed the way Tor him. They, too,
cried out that every one was thief except their
own precious selves. They snarled about the
subsidized press. They professed a passion Tor
the oppressed people Debs ran himself for all
manner OF Offices. Most, we believe. melting
Tie killing OF presidents, avoided the inconsis-
tency Of trying u be one. Both did their best
but how little il was toward the subversiOn
Of the social order. Those were the days, how
ever. Of small things of feeble individual effort
The master Of the SIanderbund has not got be
yond Debs and Most in methods for they eX
hausted the possibilities OF the printable in their
feeble weekly rags, but he has multiplied =
millonfold their application and he has sur
passed them IN results by his imposing modern
organization. Fostering discomfort is now done
on q scale undreamed of in the humble days of
Debs and Most. There is q Discomfort Trust
organized throughout the United States. In the
coming election we shall learn whether it viii
ha
omies in production effected by this great indus
trial concentration will make the Slanderbund
successful where its prototypes the small indl-
yldual producers. the Debses and the MOsts,
failed.
II has unmistakably accomplished some things
already. We called attention the other day to
the fact that Charles /. Murphy was the only
prominent man in public life to-day spared from
abuse by the Slanderbund. That IS in the nat
ure OF an achievement Of "Americansm." \
verbal pestilence has driven all OF the leading
Democrats, except those political twins Murphy
and Hearst out Of the Democracy. and the twain
have organized that new party, the Demagog-
racy. These are the triumpbS 10 date Of this
lately organized industry. The methods of the
Slanderbuud are singularly effective in clearing
the field Of the political rivals of It's master.
If you make your language strong enough most
men VIII run from il sooner than from pistol
or a blackjack. No one likes t. handy words
with q fishwfe In the verbal pestileuce rival
candidates within The editor candidates party
We're "drunkards7 and thieves" We cannot
recall with what sort Of "AmerIcanism" AIr.
Williams, the party leader. was scourged for
daring % be more conspicuous IL Congress than
the inconspicuous Hearst. \ rival editor was Il
creature OF Beelzebub, we believe it was-at any
rate, some head devil IN the Hearst inferno.
The good work keeps up. The candidate Of the
DemagOgracy denounces the last national candi-
date OF the Democracy, Judge Parker as q
'c1ckrOach'
While good ana wise men flee from the YER
bal pesulence fools cape at its mephitic magni-
tude These are days when mere bigness avails
much. Where Debs and Most fail OF i hearing
the Slanderbund, being an institution with mill
ions of capital gains a certain incOnsiderate
attention. Il is among these ThoUghtless listen
ers that, as Mr.. Hughes said the attempt is
being made ito corrupt public opinion 10 gain
"a graft Of discomfort for the master Of the
Slanderbund. Pic5pOckets are wont 10 raise Il
cry of stop thief. Sop thief" so that in the
resulting confusion they may be enabled 10 get
their hands easily into the pockets Of the indig-
nanr pursuers Of imaginary rascaIs. It is an old
trick. Il is the simple and original form Of cor
ruptinS public opinion for the sake Of graft.
The moral is. if you must chase imaginary ras-
Gals keep your hands over your own pockets
lest the real rascal be he who is raising the
hue and CRY.
Tourgenien observes: IF You want 10 an
'noy an opponent thoroughly and even harm
him, said g crafty old knave TO me, reproach
"' him with the very defect or vice you are con
% 'scious Of IN yourself. 1t viii set others
thinking that You have not that vice." If
You are q picbpocket CRY out that some ones
pocket is being picked If you are the head Of
q great corporation, deafen the world with the
shout that every one else is corporation tool
But the master Of the Sanderbund IS not con
tent with imputng one fault. By syndicatlng
al the political vices and thundarouslv re-
Iroachlng every one else with them, he seeks
10 ser the world to thinking that he is the only
one politically sness enough 10 throw stones.
But our "AmeTicanist" is so poor Lincoln
Republican that he overestimatos human gull
bilitv