Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-05-19
THE FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF
PUBLIC JOURNAL.

THE FUNCTIONS AND OT
A PUBIIC-J0URNAL.
A Free Press" is one Of the great
boasts Of u Nation. It does not belong
to civilization alone. nor can the Christian
Church claim it as the product Of her dis
~cipline. Where the highest condition OF
enlightenment and culture may be found,
where Arts and Sciences flourish to an
unsurpassed degree, the Press may not be
and often is not independent and untram.
meled by autocrasic, arbitrary limitations,
This glorious engine Of q perfect civiliza-
ton, of a thoroughly sound morality
among an informed people is only obtain.
ed and can only be permitted to attempt
and work out its mission in a Republic.
In our Union alone is the public journal
unfettered. The way is open to every man
to place his thoughts on any measure OF
Public concern, If they be decorously
written. before his fellow-men. The facts
connected with the suppression of treason
breeding journals do no. impeach or
qualify this statement; for in this country,
where there is representation to all white
men, under most reasonable conditions, in
the Government, treason is a crime, to
preach which is infinitely more licentious
than to advocate the abrogation of the
common criminal code. "Whatever does
not clearly and Individually offend vs.. the
peace and dignity of the whole people,"
says Hamilton, "may be uttered by q
speaker or writer in our Union" Hav-
ing such an exalted position, such a field
for labor, the Press of this country should
be true to its mission. And we think that
there is no subject on which u peo-
pie can speak with more pride than of the
leading papers published in the United
States ; as there is, certainly, no subject
on which they can more confidently chal-
lenge comparison with the inhabitants Of
Europe. The exceptions to the rule
which is, real independence and candor,
united with good judgment and discretion
are marked; noted by the contempt
which the masses bestow upon the sheets
that constitute the exceptions. One thing
is obvious, that rarely have ability and
dishonor been associated in the conduct Of
public journals in this land. Treason,
corruption, exclusive mercenary motive
have almost if not quite invariably gone
hand In hand with weakness in intellec.
tual management and display, 10 the bust
ness Of American newspaper production.
The people are ready to discern the guild
ing principle of a Press, to know whether
that principle is just, to remark whether
its course is consistent, fearless, and up to
the standard laid down. As it is claimed
on behalf Of the stage" that it would be-
come a failure if wickedness always was
represented as victorious and virtue met
with constant defeat in its strife with evil,
so, likewise, it may be said that the Press
that panders to wrong, or seeks to build
up error is sure to dramatize the pre-.
vailing sentiment by its OWE, signal down.
fall. The Satanic Press" Of New York
must change its course on the main ques-
tons Of the day, to meet the opinions
which the christian press has fostered and
built up into overwhelming popularity, or
it Immediately falls to the ground. True
it is that bad men oftentimes flourish,
make a speculation" by establishing and
conducting a venal journal; but their day
Of grace is only heightened BY gradual or
entire conforming to that law of right which
honest journals defend and confirm. Nor
have we said aught to conflict with the
fact tina, it is no easy task to set and keep
apublicjournal upon theproper basis ofad-
vocacy and watchfulness. Looking to some
immediate advantages, propristors and edi-
tors may temporize with, cover up, or even
apologize for wrong. It is an unpleasant
duty to bring the public villain to justice
before the people, by a plain exposure Of
his doings. There will be some to say
that it is not the function Of a newspaper
TO do this work. But they who make this
challenge on the score Of propriety would
be most willing to applaud the journal
that defended the thief in ofice-the bribed
Judge. the defaulting Treasurer, the pur-
chasable legislator. No. The people, by
their form of Government, have given the
press great privileges on the belief and
conviction that it, in turn, will protect
and guard their rights. And II observing
that plunderers have a shield and buckler
in the editorial sanctum Of any paper, they
detess the publication, as a manifestation
of ingratitude under the bsnediction of the
most liberal gifts, and the occasions for
reciprocal service. Very few are the in
stances, in these United States, where a
journal has failed Of success merely on
account Of its adherence to truth and its
vindication of what was justice. And
from the ashes Of many q printing Office,
burned down by a hooting mob, or
destroyed by people temporarily mis-.
led, have risen the strongest assail-
ants Of error. Where there is even a
slight disposition to pander to evil, on the
part of a journal, it is noticeable that the
life of the concern is sickly, and its exist
ence under present auspices cannot be
long.
For its privileges the press is bound to
be established on a platform Of right, that
it may protect the interests of the people Of
the community in which it is placed and
our experience leads US to the clear and
unqualified conclusion that q fearless
course in journalism will not only ensure
respect, but will result in financial pros
peri,y on the part Of the managers. All
the hindrances, Inconvenience, all the
hazards, all the labor will be appreciated,
sooner or later, by the readers and those
really benefited by the publication, and
,a-.rd -;u oroyv ~;sh