The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-28
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE pprss


complaining of a speech which Mr.. Walter haC
made in the House on the Reform Bill an conpecto,
with an article which appeared on the day after il
the Times. In that speech Mr. Walter expressed
the opinion that certain members might not be SC
Indifferent, or so opposed to the Reform Bill if they
Were assured that the passing of the measure would
not entail an immediate dissolution of Parliament
1t so happened that in next days number of thp
Times, this remark repeated in connection with
the name OF Mr. Horsman; whereupon that gen
teman concludes that the leading article was writ
ten by the same person who made the speech. and
complains, in a letter to Mr.. Walter, that he had
in the Times newspaper, used the name of Mr.. Ed
ward Horsman, MP, 'for no other purpose but as
Illustrative of the general measures of the House
of Commons" "Surely," wrote Mr.. Walter in re
ply, ''yo our letter must have been written in mo.
ment OF irritation, and under circumstances OF
misappTehension, which your cooler Judgment must
have led you to regret But Mr.. Horsman denies
this mild Impeachment and writes Mr. Walter \
long letter on the duties obligations, and RESPONSE
blllties OF a journalist. But Mr.. Walter refused
to be looked on as journalist, and he took the on
portunlty OF bringing the matter before the House
ot Commons, in order that he might publicly state
once and for ever that he not the principal pro-
prletor OF the Times and ruler of its councils; that
he had no hand in the article of which Mr. Hors-
man complained; and lastly, that he did not even
know who was the author of that article On the
10Th, as above mentioned, ,rthe following article
which can be read with interest and profit on this
side of the Atlantic as well as in England, appear-
ed in the Times
it Is unnecessary that in this place we should
eltner repeat or comment on the cOrrespOndence
ana debate which Mr. Horsman has thought ft to
ploNohe upon the position OF the press Tnn
letters and speeches will speak for themselves
and we are confident that nine-teptbs of on
readers will ask with amazement wha, coll
be the object OF Mr.. Horsman, what DAMAGE
he was attempting to repair what causa ho -
concerned to vindicate, in an attempt to rastan
personal responsibility on public journal Tho
case OF the anonymous press has been so often dis
cussed, and so invariably decided in its favor a.
essential to its liberty, that for man TO dsnute II
argues him positively behind hand upon the ad
mltted principles and received philosophy of consti-
tutional order and government. We have only to
look to France, where the press is no longer anonv
nous, TO see the Legitimate conclusion of Mr. Hors-
mans theory. While prOcaiming the independence
OF the press, he insists its responsibility, and
tails into strange confusion of the meapinG and
form of that which he thinks is so important 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 NAV be
called to account this very day either bv nnblic
OPINION or Oy some contemporary, or by an appeal
TO ourselves, or in the courts of law or on tho
noor of Parliament. Our words are proclaimed in
the face of day, and not only proclaimed but left
on record forever. The wish "Oh, that nv enemy
might write book!' is fulfilled in all we do; and
1t on Mr.. IOrsmans theory we are every man, :
enemy, every man has us at his mercy. For the
merest passing observation that, in the event of
being secured against Il dissolution for two wears
even Mr.. Ilorsman might talk more easily of his
rulle with his constituents, he has occupied three
hours or public time, and given us the benefit of
some very unpleasant comparisons We will ven
ture to say that never was passing a remark so
gravelv interpreted and so heavily visited and vet
Mr.. liorsman complains that the Times is ire
sponsbe.
Once for all, what is the public press. if Lord
Brougham will allow us to call it by that name?-
1t is only one form and one development of that
puoiic 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 rehac.
tlon which passes from man to man. house to house
table to table, club to club, class to class and so
through the kingdom 1t fixes and records itself
IN the newspapers, which thus become the mirror
ot the times, and will pretend that they are
not true and faithful mirror. Now it so han.
pens that before public opinion becomes strictly
anonymous 1t IS apt to be very Irresponsible and it
only becomes responsible to all intents and purpo-
ses when 1t becomes anonymous. In ordinary con-
verSation men and things are often discussed with
excessive license. Men Of lively fancies, and per-
maps ni strong opinions relate Incidents describe
persons, ascribe words, and do all and more than
any newspaper can venture to do, with the certain
ty OF being believed and an equal certainty of nev-
er being called to account. They express them
selves with dramatic effect, and so coin ST statements
which Will pass current, because they are striking
are bright, sharply cut and ring clear They may
possess a whole ncighbOrhuod. a whole CITY
n whole Kingdom, with statements which are
really false and injurious, and which NAV
never reach the ear. OF the victim. A man
may thus have his character sIandered or
lested away, and no more know it for wears and
years than the Union Bank knew the quiet abstrac-
ton oil quarter OF million bv their cashier
ms Is gong on, more or less, every dav, every
hour; and, no doubt, many mans 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 ot responsibility attached to that current
of opinions which is not strictly anonymous The
instant it reaches the press and records itself to the
anonymous' Journal, it becomes responsible 1t
IS read by the persons accused reflected OMIT
Is on record. Litter" scriptd mana. 1t cannot be
denIed 1t can be confronted with other statements
beaten down by argument, soltened by mitrat.
ing circumstances. If it is confuted the iouTnal
suffers in credit. The accused is only too thankful
that ne has at last that opportunity of defending
himself which society never allowed him. Yet this
perfectly responsible, though anonymous press
winch Is the great protector, not only of our pub
lie liberties, but also our personal character which
secures hearing for everybody, and discovers
every calumny, is compared by Mr. HOrsman TO
midnight burglar, to a masked assassin and we
know not what neutrality-suspicious. indicating not
only most unaccountable loss of temper but also
as we have shown, temporary allegiance of the
reasoning faculties.
Had we to seek through the world for instances
to show Mr. Horsman utterly mistaken, we could
ind none more opposite than his own. In order
to prove that the press is powerful because ire
sponslble, and irresponsible because ANONYMOUS he
cites two instances, in which it is evident, on his
own showing, that the press has not one atom of
power, except what 1t may have by the mere force
OF truth. 1t has calumniaIed him and the House of
Commons, he says, by asserting that the House
and he in particular, can be BIASED in their deci-
sion upon the Reform bill by the personal consider
alton that, in case of an immediate dissolution it
may cost many members their seats, Mr.. Howman' s
among the rest. This is simply reflection upon
matters before all the world. fit be an unfair or
uncharitable retlecton,it recoils on our heads Till
Mr.. Horsman brought it up certainly were not
aware Of any such indignant recoil. y =
But, according to Mr.. Horsman, the crownnr
feat and damning crime of this anonymous and
therefore Irresponsible irresponsible and therefore
aIl-powerful press is, that for long time past it
has successfully attacked and DESTROYED the repu-
tatiOn and influence of all our great men, Were
not the facts the case patent to all mankind. if
might be supposed that Westminster Abbey was
full OF our victims, most of whom had passed
thither after an arraignment in the neighboring
hall, and walk through one of the windows Of
Whitehall chapel. But how stand the facts of the
case? At the very time Mr.. Horsman was read
ing this astounding demonstration of our despotic
ana irresistible power, and our murderOus prOpen-
sltles, he was surrounded by men who have not
only survived the very attacks he describes for
halt a century, more or less, but are the principal
men of the country; not only that, but very good
terms with ourselves; not only that, but supplying
by their friendly relations a new and separate
ground of accusation against US, who are de
nOunced In the same speech the murderers their
political influence and the objects of their confden-
arabic. =
The truth is it is not this or that journal, but the
House of Commons, and the House of Commons as
rejecting and embodying the pubic opinion of
England, that Mr.. Horsman must bring into Court
We beg to assure him it is not we who are anony-
nous offenders, but he must frame his indictment
against England altogether, her public opinion and
her political habits W are not the kng-makers
and king killers; such he have much more to do
with it, FIVE criticise men and measures we do
not destroy; we do not weaken; we do not so
much as ALLEVIATE. There stand the killed men, not
only healthy and strong, but our very good
friends They neither need desire Mr.. Hnrs-
mans protecting 9gis against us With stouter
frames and finer mettle, they can survive, and
even improve by our criticism; and, instead of
trying to hunt us down, thank us for our
honesty.
THE MARINE SCHooL-Smr AT CuARLEsroN.-
Charleston Is. c. papers give an account of the
first cruise of the Marine School-Shp at that port
with the following very creditable
statement in regard to the progress of the pupils in
nautical studies:-
"Thus the first trip of the Lodebar, as a Marine
School, manned by her own boys, was made in less