Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-11-03
A FREE PRESS.

A republic is a representative government under
the control of the people, for whom its delegated
powers are exercised and to whom 1t is responsible
1t is an organization based upon the principle that
the people are capable rot discrimlnaung between
truth and error, wisdom and folly, and right and
wrong; and that they are competent to carry out,
in the conduct Of their representative government
both by men aud measures-the determinations
they make To be in condition to exercise judg
ment, and by that means to shape the course Of
their government. facts and opinions must be elicit
ed and put before the people for canvass. Theseare
indispensable to the exercise of intelligent judg-
ment Ignorance is as fatal as corruption. Public
opinion must be both enlightened and honest To
keep the people in the dark defeats the prospect OF
wisdom in affairs no less than popular corruption.
The blunder of ignorance on the part OF the people
will not give them wise direction of their affairs.
That they mean we'll and do the best they know
how for their country with the lights before them,
does not mend matters. 1t is necessary that they
should have lights. There is no means for !nlorln-
ing the people and for evokng their proper judg-
ment so efficient as the press. To muzze the press,
is to suppress facts and opinions which may be ne
cessary to the correct judgment of the people War
against the freedom Of the press is an attack upon
the peoples of obtaining information for the
control of their gOvernment-Strkes at the root OF
republican freedom ITSELF Its practical effect is to
put the people, their government and their measures
in the hands of those who, having gained their con-
fdence would direct affairs without responsibility.
The press does not undertake to do more than to
furnish facts and ideas for the exercise of the good
judgment of readers. ! 1t has no power or preten.
sion to dictate or control The adoption or rejec-
ton of views expressed is entirely optional with
readers; and the reading of any particular news
paper Is certainly voluntary. The press has no
thority other than that freely accorded it by the
public upon Judgment of character and ntelli-
gence, or upon the inherent force of the views
thrown out. In these lie all its might and all its
authority.
free press is absolutely necessary for the pres.
ervation OF liberty in any country. 1t may become,
and to certain extent always is, licentious. What
power is free from abuse; and where can perfection
be found in the wordH Is perfection expected from
all who speak words or perform actions Do abuses
OF these privileges and powers prove that speaking
and acting should be stoppedP There is response
bility for words and for actions. Also for writing
and publishing in newSpapers-moral, legal and
personal Abuses liable to remedies or at least
AS much as speaking and acting-to preventions
in the future As to nallibility and perfection the
idea is nonsensicsl. The evil must be taken with
the good-in newspapers as in men themselves, and
IN all things human, from governments down.
But even licentIous press is far less evil than
press that is enslayed, because both sides NAV be
heard in the former case, but not in the latter A
icentiouS press may be an evi, but fair play is
allowed to truth and falsehood. wisdom and folly,
right and wrong. In such a struggle republicans
believe the former will prevail The evil IS open to
remedy. An enslaved press must be an evil for an
enslaved press suppreSses truth and may cause
error to be more current than TRUTH folly than WIS.,
dom, and wrong more powerful than right, without
the benefit Of correction. 1t is then ore sided
business of interested men. The people may be
stuffed to suit the interests of those placed in power
False statements foolish counsels and unjust actions
are gwen currency and applause by an enslaved
press without comment or contradiction A licen.
tous press cannot effect these things; for if it gives
poison it gives also the antdote which an enslaved
press withholds. An enslaved press doubly fatal
1t not only takes away the true light-for in that
case we might stand Still-but it sets up factous
one, that may drag US to our destruction.
The press must be taken for what it worth, as
giving speech and utterance to the various and con-
h'ctng statements and opinions in the community,
elicit the mature ranh- %1,Ule,sAvIsS ei-h.~~-i
the people. Public discussion alone can accomplish
this result Charleston Mercury.