The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-30
The Fress-Its Rights and il. Duties.


There are those who assert that all human ac
lions, however different they may appear in their
motives and in their consequences are the result OF
a single prnciple-that all the ten thousand forms
under which human passion and human sentiment
display themselves, but developments of the
single instinct Of selfshness. However thus may
be-whether the sense Of instce and the feeling of
benevolence are but more refined and purified
love ofself whether they be the original prompt
ings Of diviner instincts-certain it is that man
thinks more about himself than about his neigh
bors-more about what others owe him than what
he owes Others Hence it is that the word rights
is so much more common than the word duties
Hence the tendency which exists in the most Of us
to dwell upon the former and pass lightly over or
entirely forget the latter,
Norris this disposition of our nature entirely sup
pressed when men devote themselves, or profess to
devote themselves, to public interests and public
welfare. Thus the Press, which, more than any
other profession in the country, should be entirely
given up to the public good, is too often found
prating and declaiming about its rights when it
should be thinking of and practising its duties It
is frequently heard eamoring loudly and violently
about It's right to inquire into every wrong and ex
pose every grievance, without rejecting that the
possession Of such right imposes heavy duty and
fearful responsibility. If the Press insists upon
the right Of publishing and condemning every thing
that interieres with the public welfare, it must
practise the habit Of dligent and thorough inquiry,
and not give heed to the first vague mmor or crude
suspicion which may be suggested by interested
witnesses OF angry partisans. For example in the
case OF Rey, which has lately agitated our com
munity, il was indubitablya right of the Press to
iFsrro 80, al =
there was ground for believing an injustice had
been committed. But with that right was coupled
/ the duty Of looking at the facts calmly and dis
passiopateyi and if there was any doubt as to the
| alleged abduction, the papers should have en-.
deavored TO soothe and not TO rate public opinion
A public print had no more right, under the state
Of facts which existed ten or twelve days ago to
direct popular fury against the Spanish Consul and
his Government than it had to fire the st. Charlie.
or poison the, reservoirs which supply our town
with water. Nay, had the testimony against the
Spanish Consul been as clear and conclusive as il
was really vague and contradictory, it behooved
the public journals not to stir up popular excite
ment, but to suggest proper and efficient Judicial
/ Investigation Let the Press be not the torch L
/ infame but the torch TO illumin'.
And if the Press, in exercising its right to inves
/ tigate every matter connected with the public wei
fare, is bound to investigate thoroughly before i
makes disclosures, common self-respect suggest
that il should investigate fairly and openly. N,
matter how fragrant the wrong, how extreme the
njustice the Press is not called upon, in perform
ing its duties to the public, to abandon the rules o
propriety and decency--to say nothing Of gooC
faith and honesty-which guide honorable men il
the conduct Of life. Nor viii a journalist who il
conscious that his cause is just, and that his opn
ions are true, ever resort TO mean and underhand
/ tricks in onieF 70 advance the views he may advo-
cate. Truth does not require that man, in press.
ing her claims, should ever be false to himself
never does she advise him put aside the sword Of
ae soldier and take up the dagger Of the assassin.