Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-07-06

Mr.. NEGUs does no! quite understand Why
TuE AgGUs should have said that his build
ing was rendered unsafe through either the
psrsimony or the ignorance of the owner or
builder To US the ressou is very piaio. A
newspaper owes duties TO the public which
ar high above any duty i! owes to either is
personsI or political friends. If so alder
map proves treecherors TO the pledges be
made TO secure his election, as IN the case
O, C0pp, it matters not to IS Whe'her or not
he is our persona, aud po.iiical friend 1t il
our iuyy to expose him. 10 she end that tu
tare aldermen may stand 10 wholesome fear
O! PLAYING similar dishonorsble tricks. II
an engineer or steam boat owner, or any body
, else who runs boiler, through Ignorance,
recklessness, neglect, or any other cause
blows up bis boiler, it is a solemn duty every
newspaper owes to the public TO hnd out
where the fault lies and expose It, to tie
eud that such ca'aSirophes may be proven
ted 10 future. II any mar builds q trap 10
which people are caught aud injured, that
man must make good the damages done,
( The ARGUS knows no friendship in such
mstters-il knows its duty to the public and
viii try tc perform il, Boilers do not burst,
railroad emash-ups do not occur, and
buildings do no. fall without some
person Is in fault, and whoever that
person Is must make good the dam
ages. Mr.. Negus is not an experienced
builder, end neither he or any one else
should attempt 10 build without acquiring
the necessary knowledge, or employ Ing
competent architects and builders. Bu:
even when employing the best help, the
owner must s;il be responsible for damages
he cannot shift that responsibility upon
any one else. il is not pleasant for us to
censure any one, and it ia positively nm
pleasant to say that our friends are in fault.
Most people probably have the same feel
ing. But the duties of newspaper are
above all friendships Mr.. Negus is kind
hearted, amiabe man, and he is said to be
doing all be can to alleviate The sufferers 10
this case, as is his duty to do. No one cup.
poses he purpOsely builds traps toipiure peo
pie. Bat 10 his desire TO build at the lowest
rate he nAy build unsAfely, as be did 10 this
case. He knows that our friendship for
bin would no. permit usto say a word more
than we conceive to be our duty to the
public. and to the poor, defenceess labor
ers, into whose homes come suffering, and
sorrow, and mourning, and death. Those
who cause 1t must be held to the s,rictest
responsibility.
Our city authorities, too, have high duty
to perform. They should provide for an in.
speciion of buildings, to the end that our
laborers may be safe while earning their
bread in erecting buildings that our ci.i.
zens may be safe in entering or passing
buildings in course of construction; and that
the public generally may be safe in occupy
Jog them after they are constructed. All
buildings now used for churches, halls, or
other public purposes, should also be in
spected, and if aDJ are unsafe they should
be closed sgainst pubic use.
Once more we say land We hope it will
not be necessary to repeat t) The ARGUS
has no enemies to punish or friends to re-
ward-aLd in future, when it's censures fall
upon any person, we hope that person will
try to comprehend that we are actuated
only by desire to do our duty to the pub
lic-and that no personal feeling or animos-
ity dictates word We say.