The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-23
THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS VERSUS ROW.
From the Msg York Herald

From the Ne,c Fork Heratdl
The respectable and law-abiding citizens of the
metropolis have good reason to be shocked at an
outrage committed on Tuesday last upon the per-
son of the editor of the Daily Neos. 1t appears
that in some comments upon the recent disgraceful
scenes at Syracuse the Ne1cs had mentioned the
names of several persons as having been prominent
in the muscular displays of which the Demo
cratic Convention the theatre. Thereupon,
one of the individuals alluded to, suddenly,
brutally, and in most cowardly manner assailed
one of the editors of that journal in his office,
beating and manning him in the most savage
manner. F.
No terms are too strong for the proper condemna-
ton of outrage like the above mentioned.
short time ago the press throughout the country
united in appauding the bold stand taken by the
Baltimore Exchange, which singly faced and de-
nounced the rowdies of the Monumental City, and
could not be bulled or beaten out of its position.
Since that time a combined effort on the part Of the
Baltimore press has resulted in awakening the citi-
zens to the necessity of some practical action to
bring about the rescue of Baltimore from the hands
of the scoundrels who have disgraced its name.
This action the part of the citizens has aroused
the indignation of the Mayor, who very probably
owes his place to the Intervention of armed rufans
at the polls. The Mayor seeks to throw the blame
of all the disturbances in Baltimore upon the press
A more impudent, absurd and atrocious assump-
ton could hardly be imagine@ A statement such
this, made while the double murder of police
men and the execution of four murderers on the
day at Baltimore is still fresh in the public
mlnu, aHOrOS the strongest PROOF Oh truth OF
the charges that the press has made against the
ruling powers in Baltimore. In commenting upon
the state of things in that city, not long since,
alluded to the existence of class similar to the
Plug Uglies in this city. The assault upon our
contemporary is not only proof positive of the exist
of these brutal rowdies but it shows that their
insolence has reached point where it must be
checked by some wholesome punishment. The
press should unite in demanding the utmost rigor
of the law in the sentence of the offender, and
the public should support the press in its de-
mand. 1t is the intellectual power, which
makes itself felt always for right and truth and
justice Its weapons are not those of the rowdy
and the assassin, and its strength is just in proper
ton to the amount OF confidence placed in it by the
respectable portion of the community. That the
governing classes-the rowdes shoulder httcrs
pimps and gamblers-who now lord it over the
political cliques of the metropolis, be put down
at any moment by combined effort of the people
no one doubts. Unless the press, which is the only
check to rowdyism-the politicians being bound
hand and foot by their dangerous tools-receives
the united support of the community in denouncing
violence like that at Syracuse and in the office of
the Ne,Os, then we shall see some fine day in the
Park meeting for the purpose of roscuing New
York from the hands of men who ought to be pick
ing oakum at Blackwell's Island or breaking stone
at Sing Sing, instead of parading Broadway in
purple and fine linen.