The Washington herald., 1907-05-22
PRESS GETS PRAISE
Attorney General Addresses
College Graduates.
GIVES ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN
BOnaparte Says Party Organization
and Press Are Potent Factors in
Work for Political and Social Bet
terment-Declares "We All Grum-
BILE at Newspapers Sometimes"
tn TIE ANa.l.in-t-n Hara1a

Special TO The Washington Herald.
Baltimore May 3L--Attorney General
Bonaparte delivered the valedictory ad-
Baltimore Law School. which was held to-
night in conjunction with that Of the Bal
tlmore Medical School He said, IN part;
In the work for political and social bet
terment there are two agencies Of such
Importance whether for good or evil, that
they demand some brief mention. even on
an occasion like this / refer to party or
ganlzations and TO the press. In a self
governing, democratic republic. every cit
izen ought TO have a party; unless he has,
he can hardly do his full duty to his coun-
try A political party discharges toward
the people those indispensable functions
which a committee fulflls toward any
large assemblage: Il so shapes and pre-
seEts the subject matter for decision that
the people can decide. Without parties in
some form, or some effective substitute for
parties, true popular government would be
altogether impossible. a good citizen,
who is also wise one, VIII not expect his
party 10 be perfect. for he will remember
that It is made up Of men and not Of
angels Nor viii he insist that as TO every
public question e shall profess precisely
his own individual opinion, for some har-
monlzing of views and even some subordi-
nation of personal judgment are unavoid-
able conditions Of concerted political ac-
tion on the part Of any large number Of
men.
Must BE Able to Resist.
But a good citizen must also realize
that on himself. and not on his party,
rests all the responsibility for the fulfill
ment of his duties AS Il citizen. He cannot
make his party his conscience keeper. and
whenever he finds his party a hindrance
instead of help 20 good government a
source of embarrassment 10 himself IN
doing what ne knows 10 be right, and a
source of harm and danger to the state or
nation. that moment he Is bound, strictly
bound. 10 disowu and TO resist il.
eve all grumble about newspapers
sometimes. as we do about doctors and
dentists. and lawyers and plumbers. and
house servants and the weather, bat
these are an none the less necessities OF
life as We now live A man who win not
read the newspapers nowadays lives much
as one would who always kent his eyes
shut Doubtless the latter would save
himself the sight ot many things not
worth the seeing. and Of some which had
better be unseen. but De would do this
al the end Of voluntary helplcssness and
OF consequent Uselessness.
Press Valuable Ally.
"The press Is an ally. as I have just
said. a valuable ally to friends Of good
government and pure politics in America
when. and In SO far as. it shows us the
truth, the whole truth. and nothing but
the truth II becomes dangerous and
noyious when. and in so FAR, as 10 pa
rades falsehood 20 the public eye, or drugs
the public conscience with sophistry or
prejudice In the great work Of your
lives as citizens YOU viii ba wise If YOU
welcome and make fruitful It's help. but,
if need be, YOU must he no less ready 70
face its enmity. And. while this eumf-y
is not 10 be c0urted or lightly provoked.
yet. when il comes uus0ught and u-
merlted a good and brave man will
neither shun nor fear f.
A hostile press is a terrible scourEe
for fakes and humbugs, publicity. OF all
autidUtes. is the most deadly 90 fraud
and false pretences; but a citizen tenax
p-oposiu engaged On faithful If modest.
service 10 the public. can well afford 20
smile with the calm Contentment Of a
mind ut rest when assailed with calumuy
or q target for systematic faIseh91d"
BALTIM0REAN WED IN CHINA.