Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-14
BAckBlTiNG IN oFFicIALpOM

ing in everyone of those reading OF
the backbiting going on in official
dom over the incidents connected
with the death of the President and
the incoming of his successor. But,
unfortunately not all of us are like
Tennyson's Isabel. having "a hate of
gossip parlance." Not all of us re-
spond to the kindly, generous, for
giving spirit, otherwise President
Harding would not have suffered as
he did from the unjust and often
maliciously false words spoken of
him and his acts.
So long as gossip mongering exists,
so long as the ready ear is attuned
to tittle-t attle and to covert hint,
and nimble feet, disordered magma
ton and a forked tongue wait in
readiness to spread it, so long may
we expect those, who would steal
from the blind, to be ready to make
use of this pestilent agency for
spreading reports from which the
instigators hope to profit. So long
will the seed of trouble, even of war
be scattered and so long will thistles
be found among the wheat, and the
father of lies be kept busy.
Why should the lie be put forth
that Mrs. Harding was deprived the
use of one of the White House cars,
when as a matter of fact she pre-
ferred to ride in a friends car, and
why were other stories, alike false
and malicious, circulated among
those whose conceptions of the ma
tional household are incapable of
anything above the plane of the
scullery and the back stairs?
The purpose behind the criticism
of President Coolidge for taking the
oath before leaving for Washington
this was advised by Mr.. Daugherty,
the attorney general-also that made
because he hurried to the national
capital, which he did because the
is more evident. The same con-
temptible devices are resorted to
frequently in the effort to shape
public opinion to the liking of the
manipulators. 1t has been en-
ployed to the annoyance and dis
tress Of public men since the day of
King David, and doubtless was in
vented along with the sharpened
stone tool when man began his Gull
tural struggle upward.
One may comprehend the anxiety
of hangers on in the E.g.I places,
suspicious of a nod or an avcrtcd
look, seeking weak spots in the
armor of the leaders hoping thereby
to render their foot hold more secure.
At times it seems almost unavoid-
able for those cndcavoring TO secure
popular approval of policies, even
good ones, to escape altogether
from making use of human preju-
diccs, yet in so long they are play
ing with fire likely to start a con-
flagration. For many months the
spirit of antagonism, in France
against the Germans and in Ger
many against France, has been
manipulated to the ends of this or
that policy. How otherwise main
tain the spirit of resistance? Yet
this is but sowing as seed tradi-
ton of hatred. Why talk about
peace with honor under such condi-
lions?
Some have looked to a better
understanding for a clearer compre-
hension which should preclude
state of the public mind that
would tolerate such an evil. Yet, in
capital of country which considers
itself enlightened and certainly
possesses ample facilities for en-
lghtenment. it is possible to arouse
interest by means of silly calumny.
Evidently people who don't make use
of their facilities for enlightenment
don't become enlightened. Indeed
this would be 4 hcrculean undertake
ing in those who find special pleas
ure when foul whisperings are
abroad"
They suffer limitations of which
they have no comprehension. They
are unable to conceive of a public
official really giving his life to the
task to which he has set his hand.
Their minds cannot rise to a con-
ception of glorious OPP portunity to
serve; as quickly and effectively
would a jelly-fiSh respond to the
stimuli of these words of President
= Harding shortly before his death,
and when his vision was clarified by
suffering: ''if we could bring into
the relationships of humanity among
ourselves and among the nations of
the world the brotherhood that was
taught by the Christ, We would have
restored world; we would have lit
tie or none of war and we would
have a new hope for humanity
throughout the earth.s
But who could reasonably expect
mind fevered with the lust of
backbiting competent even to con-
ceive of the meaning of such
. brotherhood? No one. but there is
!. faith to believe the number of these