Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-10-18
THE DUTIES OF A NEWSPAPER.
An Attempt to 1ntimidate the Press.

A few days ago, giving an account OF 'ii'
excursion OF our committee to Feor'H' 10
NEE. and escort TO this place the O'he'n-
uatiaus. after cri.ioisiBg the rather bad taste
exhibited by the naltster, tbs ARGUS $50
A.o,L.f o,r distinguishedt?) fsllew citizens
:. ltS .,rb an xtent in +" cue mbers and
~ ~. hs got very sick as be always does
-. n don 4 cost him anything.
No name vas mentioned, aud it was hoped
,bn, the item would put future committee
men on their guard when they attempt to
represent other people. The next morning
n. A. Ssiler came to our business office
aud complained that the We line, quoted
above Was al attack on him admitted that
be was made sick by vine, etc and ordered
his bill IN .ds out--he would Withdraw his
patronage He was quietly furnished bis
bill, bat not having the necessary stamps
about him. he left. Ia the afternoon he re-
turned paid up, and ordered dseoutinuAnce
of his business. he has, therefore. given
US an opportunity to say few words which,
Otherwise, we should not have had.
!. The item of which he complains is
true, and it applies to hia. H was drunk
on vine, and, il the returuing car
while 10 presence of our guests, and
while acting as one of our committee,
he vomited upon the car seats, etc,
staggered to the water eloset, remained
there awhile, then reSppeared, crouohed
down 10 a seat aud went to sleep
2. He is said TO have been IN the sane tx
twice ia this city, on free drinks neither OF
which he will probably deny.
8 de is member OF the Presby ter an
church, and ought to have sat better exam
pies to those who make no professions o.
goodness.
4. he Was one of q committee to repre-
sent the people of this city in the reception
Of our Qussts, aud while acting in that ca pa
CITY he saopld hare remembered dot his act
affected other people besides himsHf
s. lie made a great mistake when, b.
Withdrawing his business from this office, h,
sOug h to punish the press for its inde en-
: deHce. Neither bis business relations viii
t this Office, or these Of any other man, hsv'
/. anything whatever to do with lbe con
duct of the paper WIS ever he get
done here, in business way, be get
his moneys worth. in return, and neither b.
OF vt are under any sort OF obligations u
Il, e. ~. ~
quite as much as we need his business
and the course he has taken is & notice tt
all our readers to keep G~ay from bis store
>, Ne~spSper are, or ought to be, governed b.
high aud Imperative duties to the great pub
lie, TO the cause Of good morals re pectsol'
society, &C.. &c, and not TO covering upth'
8 faults of those who act for the public Th'
Il public resp-ct The l.t aud honest criticism
8 of free press, and Sou.d despise news
e paper conducted on the basis oF Mr.. Sxiler'
ideas. If be caa'I sit down on g rosteI
I spple without making him drunk, he shoul,
keep of the apple, or keep of committees
where bis liability to accidents III atf &C
the people he pretsnds 90 represent. To
wards Mr.. S~iler. personally, we have Do
; one unkud thouzhI-buI Er Swier As
ommittee-msn, representing Us, We have
right to crticiss--nnr would the desre,
= friend We have in the world escape Jha. or
70 ,icIsm when be deserved it. Il is n Il NJ
g S~ller, or Anybody ia particular that We at
EfJer--it is al men who, while pretending I
" represent the public, bring dscredit or rid
eule upon the community they are seut OF
= to represent And when any man accepts
T. position on a com nislee to represent loc1
d sion containing 10000 inhabitants be shouI
= remem Der that bis Acts affect the people b
pretends to represent, and not make di
D. susting or disereditable exhibition of hi u
= self before those be vas, IN the name
30 900 people, ssnt to entertain. And
J. makes not the least bit Of difference to u
Who it may bs-=s propose to make an sS
u ample Of such mea for the tene6, OF fuiur
d com nit,ees We res u regret that 10 N
j. case, It is 40 clever man as Mr. Ssijer
i bot even that shall not deter Us froa- dOi.
our duty to the public