Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-19


SOUTH OMAHA. April B.-To The Edi-
tor OF The Bee. IL was vita a sense OF
satisfaction that many OF your readers
read your recent editorial on Foreign
Missions and World Peace" which assured
Us that the former imprudent, unframed
missionary was being replaced by men bet
ter suited for the task. Leavins out OF
consideration the enormous spiritual havoc
that unsuitable men can work In such a
field OF e~ndeavor. they have. as you say,
also brought about material trouble In the
form Of International disturbances by their
misdirected energy. However, recent de-
.velopments would Indicate that there Is yet
plenty Of room for Improvement in the
missionary material that is being sent
abroad from the United States. But II you
can. some day soon. assure US that the
ranks OF the Associated Press reporters In
foreign news centers are being replaced by
safer and saner aen. it will again replenish
our cup Of Joy. No set OF men have in
their hands the power to disturb Internal
lonal relations to the extent that those men
have. for the press more than any other
element moIds the opinion OF the ordinary
reading public. And II press reports are
untruthfuI. exaggerated. or give a wrong
perspective, then public opinion formed
on them as a basis will OF course possess
the same qualities.
In this way preiudices and passions are
aroused tina increase in volume until they
become an irresistible force. History proves
that even war has resulted from inflamed
public opinion, where under other clrcum-
stances, wal would not be resorted to.
our Spanish-American war was caused
- -. net r4uN.wFrT fnNarau4a
were involved. The contributing causes of
a desire for Cuban liberty, the Maine des-
truction. etc, were entirely ov-ershadowed
by the feeling that our national pride was
affronted. And who told us It was-The
Associated Press reporters in Cuba. How
our fists did itch for an opportunity TO
take the insolence out of those Cuban span
ards when we read those dispatches. sent
by Correspondent scoville and others, Civ
ing accounts Of the insults heaped upon
US Yankee dogs and n pigs Wen,
AT last we worked ourselves into a real war
spirit. President Mckinley and congress
could hardly stem the torrent long enough
to put the army and navy in condition for
war. so fierce was the clamor. When the
war was over. and the American army oc-
cupied Cuba, it is interesting to note tina
those same reporters were literally hASheu
out OF Cuba by the American authorities,
so offensive mad their attitude become.
Had the Spanish authorities done that in
the first place. it is possible that other
means than war would have settled the
disturbance. The Associated Press men
abroad evidently act on the adage Of P. T,
Barnum. The American public does love tc
be humbugged." When Cardinal Merry De.
val has not time to afford an Interview
they send up a pipe involving his father
aunt. or mother-in-law, in which the
yankees" are again insulted.
When Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Pinchot
fail to uubosom themselves to these un'
s~crupulous fellows. they imagine what th'
mutual interest was, and forward US the
result in the hope of stirring up more
trouble.
II the editors OF our Influential news
papers win devise some plan Of wedding
out those liars from the press service
abroad. they viii render a valuable servic'
to both truth and patriotism.
l A. d. BRENNAN.