The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-27
Igf ABUSE OF PUBLIC MEN
TIME TO CALL A HALT, SAYS
npFSIDENT FAIRBANKS.

,,.r,,,orous ard Reckless Muck
lD' 49,. receives Attention at the
,,,,ds of Indiana Statesman.
a+ItHA Neb.-"Men who will
nr~ and maliciously assail our
wa wa. sarvants-no matter what
luD-,. ethical faith may be, and who
'D'.. s,trn+ul to public duty-are trait
a. -r. state, no matter how lofty
o'' aaocritical professions may
'H7'' -, -ound." So said former
ss' PRESIDENT Fairbanks in the
~ Of an address before the Ad-
VOu Zinc clubs of America today.
.ooa of the marked features of
wears has been the indiscrimi-
onnsa of men in public position.
l' ,,1odorous muck-raker flourish
-. o time. but he has come to be
. .r+sc- of contempt, since his reck-
- ..s and insincerity have become
lessl.s Abuse of the liberty of the
ll"H- the attempt to malign other
pre- "A Inv faIsehood to destroy their
i Lara ', whetherfn private or pub
, Cl'-4 had come to be recognized as
~ ~. Ma tlarkest among the entire cata-
loane OF crimes.
los "To rublic official, however high,
,5 he immune from just criti-
ST. nv! Rut they should not be sub
esq ..,5 n much of the abuse that is
5oonsd upon them by the muck
nS@g and sensationalists, who are
i ZEN" l.,.sra5 only by sOrdid mercenary
! o' -. mr. by some other equally I'M
llIo g- -., nurpose far short of the
3rb,ic interest,
sThere is perhaps nothing more
..,Lsnsible than the loose inn
8loochment of the motives of the chief
pgocrtiye, the downright misrepre-
sonrarioD of his acts; distortion OF
H. record by suppression OF the
+rn+b or by pure falsehood. No pos
ssibIo Good can result therefrom; on
H. contrary, in the end confidence
n The government itself is under
Smined It may be diverting to GER
&oin class to witness such brutality
Towards the head of the nation, but
Anon sober reflection they must per-
scefve the hurtful results which flow
Atrom it and which, in the final ANAL
rsis damage all alike.
II 1oiI Of thn
Entiye applies with like force to the
kndiscriminate reckless assault upon
Abe congress. Like the president,
&be law-making body should well
home honest criticism and fair de-
nate. but wholesale abuse, unfounded
<terance, respecting the integrity
and patriotism of those who frame
and administer the peoples laws, be-
get distrust, want of confidence and
&ioubt as to the beneficence of the
government itself
4 IF measures are devised in spec
bal interest turn the light upon them
Bind their authors with unsparing Sc
Aerity. But we should differentiate
i With great care the good from the
RYil; uphold those who are devoted
10 the faithful and honest discharge
pf public duty, and smite without
shercy those who betray their pub
@iC trust. We should not, however,
heap upon all indiscriminate abuse;
Rnd thereby bring the government
tself into contempt and disfavor;
lOr should We overemphasiZe the
wrong and underemphasize the good
Pnd thereby give as erroneous i'm
8ression of the true condition of
american life.
We shall find, in the final analy-
FS, that executives, congresses and
legislatures are composed of men
swho are neither better nor worse
Enan the people themselves. When
I'VE heap unWarranted abuse upon
SInem and strike down their hands
s"nen we should uphold them the
&uJury, OF course, is not entirely per-
sSonal TO them, but in a large meas
4 uFe tails upon the institutions whose
psenlS they are. 1t is impossible
H. dlscredit and destroy the servants
IL me state who are worthy without
fmpalring the state itself.
socialism has been making some
neaaWay in recent years. It's pro-
ssIeSS, no doubt, is due in a consid-
|elao,e degree to a too general i'm
p peal. of the good faith and the
| sS,,Sm of those upon whose
suoulaers, by our choice, rest for the
r une Oeing the delicate and difficult
responsibilities of government.