The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-10
PERSONAL , Abuse.

ffHHI PERSONAL AUuSOs
Perhaps, in no section of the Union Is
there so little etiquette, or such q wanton
disregard of the social, and private 'charac-
ter, as there is in the South among the cdi-
torial fraternity. To differ in politics is,
by mutual consent, a license for personal
abuse-and this license is used to its fullest
extent. and to the disgust OF the better por-
ton of society. To say we abhor such
a warfare, will be but to repeat what we
have often said publicly and privately-and
we have endeayored to abstain from such
course in discussing all the graver questions
of the day-ignoring the use of names, or
dragging the private affairs of men into the
political arena. it l.
We believe there is just so much latitude
an editor ought to have-beyond that, every
sentence uttered is libel or an assault upon
private character We are far from giving
our sanction to the TRADES of abuse INDUCED
| in towards men in power, because, OF their
political views. While no good can posi-
bly result thcrefrom, strife and personal
bitterness are engcndered, and the social
circle is broken between prominent citizens,
and often the best talent of the country.
While we are an advocate for the largest
liberty of the press, we denounce scurrility,
and have no sympathy with those who in
dulge in it; and if the laws that govern So
ciety will not serve to put an end to such a
course, we shall advocate Legislative inter-
ference, and pledge ourself to abide by any
and all laws that the Legislature may enact,
looking to reform in this respect. q
In our sister State, Tennessee, personal
abuse has been carried to such an extent as
to cause the Legislature to give serious con-
| sideration to the enactment of some law fol
the protection of innocent citizens.
| The alabama State journal, like ourself
deplores this state of the Southern press;
and that paper refers to the bill introduced
by Mr.. Hall into the Legislature of Ten.
nessee, prohibiting abuse, approvingly. The
bill provides that no newspaper editors
shall publish, or permit to be published, any
slanderous or libelous article on the private
character of any one, unless the same shall
appear as an editorial, signed by the name
of the author; and any newspaper violating
the provisions of this act shall be subject to
Indictment, and in addition to the penalties
for libel already existing in Tennessee, shall
be fined $1,000, and in default of payment
shall be subject to Imprisonment in the
county Jail for one to six months.
The Journal, in commenting on this bill,
says "If we had had such a law in Alabama
we should not have had so many SANDER
GUS and libelous articles in the press of
this city and State. The way in which
the Democratic press has for long time
assailed the private characters of some
of the best men in the State, for no
other reason than that they were Repub-
licans, has been standing disgrace.
The high mission of the press has been
degraded, and it has forfeited the respect
of the people. If the same kind of
amendment could be enacted in this State,
it would do much to elevate the tone of the
Democratic press, and would be a much
more valuable educational agency than it
has hitherto been. Nothing is so calculated
to degrade the press, in the estimation of
the public, as the frequent publication of
| low and scurrilous attacks on the char
acters of respectable citizens on political
grounds"
The remarks of the Journal will apply
with equal force to at least portion of the
Democratic press in North Carolina, whose
columns TEEN with daily Misrepresentation
and low personal abuse. Their conduct has
become intolerable, and almost unbearable;
and no one would more gladly witness their
abandonment of such suicidal course, than
the editor of the STANDARD