The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-05

An AVALANCHE OF SCURRuITY.-A coDsidera.
bic portion Of our space for the past day OF
two has been occupied with report of the trial
Of Stephen Ii. Branch, who was indicted for 0
libel upon the Mayor of the city, and two other
persons, formerly Of the Board Of Almshouse
Governors. The conclusion of the trial will be
found elsewhere, together with the charge OF
the Recorder to the jury. Branch was con-
victed and sentenced to be confined in the Peni-
Tertiary for twelve months, and to be fined two
hundred and fifty dollars.
Without commenting particularly upon this
case, II is proper TO note the fact that the ex-
istence Of such sheets as that printed under
Brsnch's auspices is due chiefly to the yitiated
appetites Of portion Of this community and
that this craving for garbage, moral disease,
breaks out at stated periods like the cholera,
the smallpox, yellow fever, or any other pesti-
lence, the seeds Of which are always found
latent in every great city. Somewhere about
twelve years ago there was yesuvian eruption
Of the same order of obscene, scurrilous and
libellous literature, and no less than three dirty
sheets-the Whip, the Flash and the .SgJer.
ronean-were suppressed by the authorities
Their editors were purified. morally and physi.
cally, by short residence in the Penitentiary
This wholesome discipline had the effect
of lettering others from entering into
the filthy business, and with the ex-
ception of q seizure or two Of obscene
prints, we have until recently enjoyed COM
parstive immunity from this class Of publca-
tions. Within the last few months, however, q
torious laxity Of the authorities, have grown
bold enough to assail in the most vulgar, low
and obscene way the private characters of Off.
cial and public persons. No less than three
journals, to wit-Branch's alligator, Porter 8
Spirit and the Red F7gg-have been established
for this line OF business, and have poured over
the city an avalanche of libels, filth, ribaldry
and obscenity which has hardly been equslled
In any civilized city since the invention OF
printing In beastliness these papers vie with
Wards London Spy or Tom Browns works;
while In the venom Of their attacks upon Off
cial persons, the journals of the present day,
above mentioned, 60 far beyond their ancient
prototypes
The existence Of such prints is shame and q
disgrace to the civilization Of the age, and II IL
the duty of respectable journalists to excite a
sense of public justice, in order that they may
be suppressed. These fellows must be taught
that they cannot use the liberty Of the press go
far as to make II the vehicle of their dirty
thoughts and diriier expressions and that an
honorable profession is not to be degraded be-
cause they hang upon its skirts like foul birds
lowering over their prey. In the days of the
WHIP the public sense Of decency acting upon
the courts was sufficient to break up the oh.
scene papers, and punish their conductors
without doubt O similar result viii speedily
overtake the foul journals Of the present day,
unless they should die a natural death before
the actual cautery can be applied to them
The Recorders sentence upon Branch, awarding
the maximum punishment sfiSsd by the statute.
will doubtless have q ealutary effect upon ali
parties