Opinions of the Press by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 1, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 17.

"Opinions of the Press."

By Editor

"IT is a significant fact that the press of both the old parties is principally engaged in discussing the unfitness of men who are mentioned in connection with the presidential nomination, rather than in extolling the merits of any. If we could believe one-half we see in their own organs, no one has yet been mentioned who possesses either the honesty or ability to fill the office acceptably. What is to be done in this emergency does not appear, but we presume a majority of ballots at the national convention will be all that will be required to transform one of these sinners into a saint. The most abused one now may be the most highly extolled after the convention has spoken."

This reminds us of an incident told us by the printer of a religious paper, the Pacific Coast organ of a leading denomination. During the sitting of the Republican National Convention of 1880, before Mr. Garfield's name had been mentioned in connection with the presidential nomination, the editor handed in a clipping regarding the general, severely censuring him as a sympathizer with monopolists, etc. But before the paper went to press the news came that Garfield was nominated for president; whereupon the censorious article was countermanded, and a laudatory editorial inserted. So much for the opinions of a time-serving press.