Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-03-22
NO. 10.


Freedom Of Speech and Liberty 4 -
Press
We ct; the following from ihe Philadeiphia
Weekly Isioz. We recommend its clear
and unswerable arguments TO the considesa-
ton Of those who arr ever psating about the
liberty Of the prsss. Some affect TO believe
:;sa: :l,e press is free 20 stir up instructions
and rrbelions. and that 20 great is the sancti-
" uf its awful freedom. that even the Gov
crnmens itself is rTohibited from dying up
the fearful fountains Of misery and Hood:
ut is true. the Constitution guarantees the
freedom Of speech aud the liberty Of the press.
but are there no limits to this liberty and this
frcedom! Does it mean that every man shall
be free to sland.r and libel his neigbbor. 10
inciie riots and disturb the peace! Must
every nan be allowed TO pollu,e the ear Of
his neighbor and the public with such senii-
ments as he may cherish, however profnne
and obscene they may lie, simply because be
chooses to. or thinks he is right, and the Con.
stitution grants linn the freedom Of speech
But fortunately, the law has brid!ed mans
tongue against his neighbor, by prosecution
for slander, criminal process for riot or dis
turiing the peace; this, them is freedom Of
speech limited, so far as individuals are con-
cerned, and against it We hear no complaint.
But the Government has no such remedies.
1t must tam.ly submit TO the gTossest misrep-
resentations and falsehoods, or curtail the
freedom of speech Of its enemies. Then in
stantly the cry is raised-'Thc freedom Of
speech suppressed, tyranny and the Bastile
nextv But if the individual is protected
against SANDER and falsehood, it is Lut right
that the Government, in perilous times, should
protect itself.
"Freedom of speech was wisely protected
by the Constitution, but was not intended
that it should extend to the corruption of
morals Or by misrepresentation and falsehood
to cmbarrass the Government. But it was
intended for more noble and glorious pur-
pose, that Of fairly, truhfully and honestly
discussing and expressing such principles and
sentiments, with due regrad to your neigh
Dor, your country and your God, ard without
fear and restraint, as you may think just and
right The discussion of politics and religion,
in fact every subject, when confined within
the bounds of truth and fairness, should be
protected.
1.-The liberty of tho press must also be taken
in restrict sense. 1t is a notorious fact that
obscene publications will find an abundance
of supporters, but the law very wisely prohib-
its the publication of such sheets, and here is
the liberty of the press infringed, because the
proprietors are not permitted to cast upon tho
public IN immoral pestlenee. The law pre-
vents newspaper from publishing false
hood against an individual, by subjecting it
to prosecution for libel. But the Govern
ment has no remedy against the fabrications
and misstatements of hostile papers. Its only
protection lays in its own power, and when 1t
exercises that power, the cry of tyranny is at
once raised. If Journal confined its state
mcnts to absolute truth and facts, and to the
of bad policy founded on those
facts, then its suppression would be an act Of
tyranny and an overreach of Government
power. But such was not the character Of
the papers that have been suppressed. Their
only object seemed to be to irritate the public
mind, to cut still deeper the wounds Of dis
cord and dissention, make them bleed anew
every day, inculcate dissatisfaction with the
Government and create riot and bloodshed in
our very midst. The reading public will not
regret the loss Of these Journals. M
TIE IRREpREssIBLE REPORrER.-Colonel
Bakers funeral ceremonies took place at
Webb's. The friends, the hcnorables and
the military. filled the house. and reporters
were shut out. Now came the tug Of war.
One reporters efforts alone win give -
sample, selecting the victor in the case. Hav-
ing failed in all other efforts to get in. he
brasscd it up to General Mcclellan and asked
a pass. This was ridiculous, of course. - it
was neither McClclan's house nor funeral
and reporter was snubbed. OF be goes to
Gen. Marcy. Chief of McClellan's staG. and
was as cavalierly treated AZ he deserved.
Round the house he goes. and. 6nding the
o,lniprescnt con,raband, gives him a dollar TO
shoot him down the scuttlc hole. when round
through the lobby and larder he cresrs 70 the
side II the parson. Bat he dare not use his
pencil lsss il bring On gentle leading cut by
the ear Down he sits, with one eye halt
closed in full funeral flow. ard the other o
the i;=rssn's manuscript. The address ever.
down knel. reporter, meek and n,ousirg, and
when all hearts were p.elsing and all eyes
were closed save sspossss's one, he stole ths
manuscript and -slid eaunss cut" Long the
very parson booked for his sruzns address.
bu, when morning dawnsd he wss able to
read il entire in the paprn-Cirrcissd Pfsss-
d1ulev.
- An exchange paper very sPsly ss1