Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-02
Editors Letter Box
Muckrakers, New and Old.
Editor Kennebec Journal:

Muckrakers, New and Old.
Editor Kennebec Journal:
The advancement of Secretary of
War Baker into the undertaking class,
evidenced by his late TRADE against the
that he has been digging into the smut
and the rust scattered broadcast by the
writer's of his ilk during the early days
of the Republic. For there were muck
rakers in those days as well as in these.
The man with the muck rake is first
presented to us in the Pilgrims
Progress. where he is typified as a man
incapable of looking on the higher and
nobler things of life, but rather seeks
the things that are low, debasing and
unworthy. The man who allows his
mind to grovel among the low and the
unsavory things of life, and takes
pleasure in trying to mar the character
OF his fellow men, easily develops into
That form of mendacity and scandal
which marks the liar who is no better
than the thief. AS Roosevelt says:
The soul of every scoundrel is glad
dened whenever an honest man is as
sailed, or even when a scoundrel is I'M
truthfully assailed"
But let us be thankful than such
cheap scandal is soon forgotten-or
lives only to plague those who scatter
IL. This Is we'll shown by an instance
OF Few years ago in California. A
prominent citizen was charged with
raising fund to defeat certain meas
ures before the legislature. He in
dignantly wired to friend in Sacra-
mento: Brand the article in this
mornings paper as false as hell. Such
tactics will act as boomerang. 1 am
coming up in the morning." His
friend wired back: Il have looked all
over Sacramento and cannot find a
false as hell branding iron. I would
like to help you propel the boomerang,
but do~not known in just what direc-
ton to throw 1t. Keep frappe old man.
Today's newspapers are lost in start
ing tomorrow's fires" All right mind
ed men will recognize the philosophy of
that last sentence, and be thankful it
Is SO true.
In looking over the papers and
pamphlets of earlier times one is sur
prised at the amount of abuse and
scandal heaped upon Washington dur
ing his second administration. One
writer commenting on the Jay-Gran-
vile treaty of 1894. said: 1.-THE Presi-
dent. not content with annihiliating the
people, wished to also annihilate the
obligations of a treaty-the price of
our liberties. Faithless. unprincipled
and aristocratical. moderatist. who
would offer up the liberties Of thy
fellow citizens on the altar Of admin
istration, and the sacred obligations of
our country, though perhaps not thine,
on the altar of treachery and dis
honor The Aurora, one Of the most
rabid papers. remarked: 1.-THE Presi-
dent has violated the Constitution. He
has made treaty with a nation that
is the abomination of our people. He
has treated our circumstances with
pointed contempt. Louis XVI, in the
meridian of his splendor and his power,
never dared to heap such insults on his
subjects. The answer to the respect
full remonstrances of Boston and Phila-
delphia and New York sound like the
omnipotent director of a seraglio'
The following appeared in March
1876: If ever a nation was de-
bauched by a man, the American ma
ton has been debauched by Washing
ton. If ever a nation has been de-
ceived by a man, the American nation
has been deceived by Washington.
What will posterity say of the man
who has done this thing? Will it not
say that the mask OF political hypocrisy
has been worn by Caesar, by Cromwell.
and by Washington alike?
But the mNckrakers were especial,v
1ubilant when Washington retired from
office at the end'of his second term
One breaks out in the word of Holv
Writ thus: "'Lord, now lettest thv
servant depart in peace, for mine ewes
have seen Thy salvation II there
ever was time which would Justify
the reiteration Of that exclamation. the
time Is now arrived. For the man who
Is the source of all the misfortune. ~
our country is this day reduced to tho
level Of his fellow citizens. and :. W
longer possessed of power to multinlv
evils upon the United States, If there
ever was a period for rejoicing this il
the moment. Every heart ought to heat
high with exaltation that thelhame ~
washington from this day cease. ia
give currency to political iniuuitv arS
to legaize corruption. This dav ought
to be q day of jubilee in the United
States" 'eo
Thomas Paine was one Of w.sh,,.
tons staunch supporters. hoth :,
speecn ana writing. He dedicated hi.
nHsnts OF man to Washington. ana ex-
Se"s'nusd on Page 12-col. p