New-York tribune., 1872-09-28
STEERAGE ABUSES
TIE POWER OF JOURNALISM ILLUSTRATED.
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TIE POWER OF JOURNALISM ILLUSTRATED.
Prom Iss CA,rags frtbnrc
Some weeks ago, TIE hEW-AORK TRIBUNE,
with view ~ rstL- what CuLdatuu there was Tor fNe
iudt ui.e ruors OF 4se implisoumeut and had treat
without the slightest dhlcuity, arrested luuatir
80 pronounced Oy medIsaI examiners OF boOnihgdtle
Asy uu., and ia consideration o. hIs mcuraOie te-
roCty assigned TO the dangerous ward during tse Two
weeks he remained ia tue asyiH Ae |a5
officers Of the institution "a dangerous lunauc;
he uad iu opportunity to Witess cue rec GIess "a. yaI
tic general indifference 10 tho comfort anu ea IN o TIE
inmates. Though deprived of every means OI Htltn-,
and carefully watched, he extended his observations
over large part ot the institution Nnen ms Imc was
charged. Tue facility having person incarcerated
M anu ,van "a fbe r,ismsnao aoement of the in
stuti0n Itself The exposure has led 10 reforms,
aud has also resulted in an investigation OF tie brutality
OF the keepers Of the insane on Blackwes Island, and
10 one ruan have been traced the deaths Cf al least two
victims. The same paper year ago. had one of ts re-
porters lodged IN the debtors prison, and hs revelations
TO wholesome reforms il the management In the same
OF CardOzO and Barnard leading eventually 10 their dis
mssaL
yestigaton is that OF emp0ye OF that Office who
sent Europe, and who took passage IN the steerage
deals Of Castle Garden "a now on his way 70 heiWest GU
emgrant traln that he may DC able 70 tell the whole
story from the beginning 70 the end The revelations
Will be the interest Of humanity, and may. in the end
tenu Icb 'H' i,1igrant. are campelI4d 10 sTb
nit Tie power % journalism Is In no better shown
than in these and other instances OF Ike character.
(overnments have ceased TO anything nests for
place-hodeIs. No Government, National, state, or nu-
nicral VIII voluntarily reform abuses from which
fbe officials draw profit or exercise power The reform
must come from without, and must De the work OF free
and educated public opinion The newspaper pTess, in
order be worthy Tia confidence OF the peOpe, nus De
s and must be independent OF party and OF the
Government 10 s OF the managers or a mnate asyum,
or a steamship packet company. It's relations
be such is judgments and revelations free from
all suspicion OF partisan purpose The days Of organ
ship have passed. That class OF newspapers Will
daily lower public estimation and eventually die out.
Wlth independent and fearless JOgrnalsnthat Journal
ism which finds & 10 De more profitable 20 champion
public interests and represent honest public opinion,
than 70 play the part OF hired defender OF Official
party msdeeds - there Will Tow up better
code Of Official morality. Journalism OF that klnd,
sustained. IL will be, Dy public sentiment,
wll bring public officers 20 sense Of personal
sponsibnty. Party Will longer be able 10 shield
TuptiOn. With the uDerrng force and truth with
which the crimes and horrors u private lunato
asylums, debtOrs prisons and Immigrant ships
covered and the responsibility hTed upon the guilty
will the independent and fearless journal, representing
40 party ana actuated by other feeling than that Of
maintaining pubic and private rghts be potent IN
stripping Ofela corrupJOns, and holding the guilty. up
" Ile repTeDslon Of ~ sutraSea pssAs