The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-08 00:00:00

111 R. WA LTER AND MR. JIORSIII4N.

(From the Times.)
It is unnecessary that in this place we should
either repeat or comment on the correspondence
and debate which Mr. Horsman has thought fit to
provoke on the position of the press. The letters
and speeches will speak for themselves, and we are
confident that nine-tenths of our readers will ask
with amazement what could be the object of Mr.
Horsman, what damage he was attempting to re-
pair, what cause he wasconcerned to vindicate in an
attempt to fasten a personal responsibility on a
public journal. The case of the anonymous press
has been so often discussed, and so invariably de-
cided in its favour, as essential to its liberty, that
for a man to dispute it argues him positively behind-
hand upon the submitted principles and received
philosophy of constitutional order and go-
vernment. We have only to look to France,
where the press is no longer anonymous,
to see the legitimate conclusion of Mr.
Horsman's theory. While proclaiming the inde-
pendence of the press, he insists on its responsi-
bility, and falls into a strange confusion on the
meaning and form of that which he thinks is so im-
portant to the welfare of society. Nobody in this
day denies the responsibility of the press in its only
true and natural form. There is nothing in the
world more responsible than the
.press. For every
word on either side of these two immense sheets we
may be called to account this very day, either by
public opinion or by some contemporary, or by an
appeal to ourselves, or in the courts of law, or on
the floor of Parliament. Our words are proclaimed
in the face of day, and not only proclaimed, but
left on record for ever. The wish " Oh, that mine
enemy might write a book !" is fulfilled in all we
do ; and if on Mr. Horsman's theory we are every
man's enemy, every man has us at his mercy. For
the merest passing observation that, in the event of
being secured against a dissolution for two years,-
even Mr. Horsman might talk more easily of his
ruffle with his constituents, he has occupied three
hours of public time, and given us the benefit of
some very unpleasant comparisons. We will ven-
ture to say that never was so passing a remark so
gravely interpreted, and so heavily visited; and yet
Mr. Horsman complains that the Times is irrespon-
sible.

Once for all, what is the public press, if Lord
Brougham will allow us to call it by that name ?
It is only one form and one development of that
public opinion which is the very life of freedom.
Public opinion is that which rises from the common
heart of society, is informed by its common sense,
and passes from mouth to mouth. Public opinion
in this country is that flow of thought and reflection
which passes from man to man, house to house, table
to table, club to club, class to class, and so through
the kingdom. It fixes and records itself in the
newspapers, which thus become the mirror of the

times, and no one will pretend that they are not a
true and faithful mirror. Now, it so happens that
before public opinion becomes strictly anonymous it
is apt to be very irresponsible, and it only becomes
responsible to all intents and purposes when it be-
comes anonymous. In ordinary conversation men
and things are often discussed with excessive li-
cence. Men of lively fancies, and perhaps strong
opinions, relate incidents, describe persons, ascribe
words, end do all and more than any newspaper
can venture to do, with the certainty of being► be-
lieved, and an equal certainty of never being called
to account. They. express, themselves with drama-
tic effect, and so coin statements which will pass cur-
rent, because they arc striking, are bright, sharply
cut, and ring clear. They may possess a whole
neighbourhood, a whole city, a whole kingdom,
with statements which are really false and injuri-
ous, and which may never reach the ear of the vic-
tim. A man may thus have his character slandered
or jested away, and no more know it for years and
years than the Union Bank knew the quiet abstrac-
tion of a quarter of a million by their cashier. This
is going on, more or less, every day, every hour ;
and, no doubt, many a man's own familiar friend is
talking him down for years without his knowing it,
or hearing of it, except by altered looks in this or
that quarter. Such is the actual amount of respon-
sibility attached to that current of opinions which
is not strictly anonymous. The instant it reaches
the press, and records itself in the " anonymous"
journal, it becomes responsible. It is read by the
persons accused or reflected on—" it is on record."
I item scripta manet. It cannot be denied ;it can
be confronted with other statements, beaten down
by argument, or softened by mitigating circum-
stances. If it is confuted,the journal suffers in credit.
The accused is only too thankful that he has at last
that opportunity of defending himself which society
never allowed him. Yet this perfectly responsible,
though anonymous press, which is the great pro-
tector, not only of our public liberties, but also of
our personal character, which secures a hearing for
everybody, and discovers every calumny, is com-
pared by Mr. Horsman to a midnight burglar, to a
masked assassin, and we know not what besides—
indicating not only a most unaccountable loss of