The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-04-14
Freedom Of the Press.

Much wind is spent by orators, and much
ink is shed by writers about "the freedom of
the PRESS All very well, but We do not see
why man who runs newspaper should be
allowed to pitch into the private affairs of his
neighbors any more excusably then one who
runs threshing machine. 1t is expected that
an editor will give his readers the news, but il
is not proper that he should extend his enquiries
into the behavior Of those with whom the pub
lie have no business. Nor is it seemly or in
the least justifable for an editor to nauseate
bis readers with the small or large personal
quarrels which his owa bad conduct or his
hyper-crticism may breed. Editors arc like
other people-as good as any body if they be-
have themselves. with 10 more right than any
other man in business, and ameneable to the
law or the cow-hide, when they take advantage
of their position to drag before the public the
private matters of their associates. We have
seen many a cowardly rascal who could write
bold as Caesar about one whom he had decid-
ed, for money or spite, to victimizo but when
confronted with, The accused he "roared as
gently as sucking dove We may be wrong
in this; but it is our deliberate judgemeat
that "the press has lost the confidence of the
public in great measure from the exercise of
more freedom" than the law allows or decency
justifies. In all public affairs the pen necessa-
rily is free or it is valuess, but it does not follow
that Mr.. BRowN, or Ills wife or his daughter
should be subject to raking fire Of paper pei
lets simply because Mr.. Brown or any member
Of his family should choose to array themselves
in a style Of dress not exactly correspondent
with our notions of fashion. We think no man
should be ridiculed for his peculiarties provided
the peculiarities are not Of such nature as
to demoralize or disgust the public, and we are
always glad to hear of the destruction of that
press which sustains itself on the aliment deriv-
ed from its proneness TO scandal,
These remarks have been penned in view of
the following incident: At st. Cloud Mia,
the celebrated JANE SwIssHELx published a
newspaper. A. Mr.. SnErLEY, by invitation of
the citizens delivered an address on "Woman"
in which he SPOKE severely Of strong minded
women. Mrs. Swisshelm took up the cause in
defence of the class to which, lhe claims to be.
long, and made an attack 0h the wife of the
lecturer-ths latter, learning that Mrs. S. was
preparing matter of still more personal char.
acter against his family, and knowing the bold.
ness and daredevil character of the Editress,
he procured some friends and put her type into
the river. Mr.. Brott, the owner Of the office
was in Washington at the time. and as there
was no one to control the strong minded lady.
Mr.. shepley states that no remedy was left
him but the one he sought. In card to the
Pioneer he confesses his participation, gives
the reason for it and processes himself ready to
pay the owner for the Loss, on the return of that
gentleman to the scene Of immersion. That
community which sustains newspaper guided
inits steps by love of scandal or by malevolence,
will find that the danger all citizens stand in
from he pen of satire or vindictiveness is never
compensated by the wit or the talent of it,
conductor.