Show THE PRESS AND POLITICS the great preponderance of politics above everything else in nearly every paper which reaches us is very distinct the subject is not confined to what might be termed political papers newspapers papers of every kind periodicals and religious journals devote a large portion of their space to the fruitful theme but seldom does a paper come to hand which professes to take an independent position on politics party and party interests are al nil all I 1 absorbing and it seems aa as if the belief very generally exists that can not live and flourish without being a political hack the great questions of the hour some of which affect the national vitalia vitality are viewed from a partisan stand point and dealt within with in a partisan spirit and the character motives opinions and actions of political opponents are dragged draggi dol pol through the mire of vituperative controversy tro versy while leaders and members of the party in whose interests the paper acts are lauded beyond all bounds their very vices being tortured into apparent virtues this condition of the press throughout the entire re republic publia is highly suggestive ge stive it marks the tone of public feeling to A a great extent for though the press may sway the popular will it must travel at least partially in harmony with that will or its power for good or evil is greatly limited it is but a few years since this supremacy macy of politics as a subject of great public in interest tereA was confined to the eve of election contests then in the heat of excited feelings utterance was given to many things which in calmer moods would have been unsaid and which were willingly forgotten by all parties as the excitement died away now this is of daily and continued occurrence the bitterest epithets are hurled with recklessness from either side of contending parties against those from whom they differ and the wounds thus made are kept rankling by repeated thrusts of envenomed darts in a republican form of government such as ours the acts of every public servant are open to criticism and the higher his position the greater the trust reposed in him the closer is he watched that he occupies with honor and dignity the position in which he is placed thesis this is according to the spirit of our national institutions but to seize upon every trivial saying or act of public servants with the eagerness of a vulture fastening on a morsel of carrion simply because they hold other views and act upon other opinions is or ought to be be be neath a great people represented through its press that politics has become reduced almost to a science is well known and that men make it a profession which they follow for a livelihood is a fact too well substantiated to be controvert ed and in the pursuit of that profession every lever is used that can be and every means are employed no matter how bow lous or dishonorable to A make it pay and secure the triumph of party the times when loyalty meant devotion to country and constitution and not to a party and when patriot did not mean partisan are looked upon as antediluvian slow and a long w way ay behind the spirit of the present T the tho e press teems with personal and public pub lc abuse its widespread wide spread influence altac attacks k s the fine sensibilities of the young who are becoming so accustomed to the liberal use of foul epithets that refined language and true gentlemanly politeness cannot but suffer from it the people are constantly called upon to watch the politicians and the politicians are incessantly laboring to prove how disinterested te rested and honest they and the members of the party to which they belong are and that those to whom they are opposed must of necessity be corrupt venal and unworthy of public confidence thus like a huge cauldron cauldren caul dron fill I 1 ed with ingredients that will not unite and mix mik freely the politics of the nation are kept seething and boiling with the press as chief cook and nire fire tender lender when the influence of the press is exerted to lion ilon honor or labor and degrade fashionable and corrupt indolence when men are sustained for office because they are fully qualified and will labor for the public good when virtue in a public servant is lauded and dishonor corruption and dishonesty re probated without respect to party or opinion when men who claim the suf frages of fellow citizens are endorsed because they seek their count rys not a parts bartys good then the press will be engage engaged in a n nobler obier labor and will challenge in an infinitely higher degree the admiration and support of the intelligent and patriotic throughout the land |