The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-15
SATURDAY EvENG. MARCH l5. 1879
sensational Criminal Publications.


the courts reminds US to say word upon
this subject. We are very radical in our
views upon the Freedom Of the Press.
We want to see it freed not only from the
restraint Of despotic laws, but from the
more despscable servitude OF party, OF
rings. and Of the mob. We want to see
more editors write their honest convic-
tons, without an eye always to the par
ty leaders, the advertising columns, or
even the subscription list. That Is the
freedom which the Press needs to enable
it to become the inspirer and guide, and
the moving power of the worlds pro-
eress. Because it has a mission so high
and grand, we want it to ce-se from
being mere drag-net In the cess-pools |
of vice.
A large share of the newspapers of this
country devote more attention to crime and
its sensational details than to any other SUBJ
ject. Its readers are fed upon horrors, and
the disgusting revelations of vice. The
criminal courts are watched with sleepless
vigilance lest some poor wretch, whose first
crime has, perhaps, been committed in an
unguarded moment Of great temptation,
should go unheralded to his doom. Hard
BY the prisoners dock, stands the repre-
sentative of the Press waiting to proclaim
to all the world the disgrace, not alone OF
the hardened criminal, but of the tremb-
ling youth who stands there for the first
time. Thus stamped with notoriety more
terrible than the brand of Cain-not only
the offender but his innocent friends-what
wonder that hope dies in the breast of the fall
len and he pursues his way to despair. And
who is benefited by the reading of these
records of depravity? So far from deter
ring, this close familiarity with vice breeds
imitation. The sensitive minds of the
young are corrupted or rendered callous.
A depraved taste for this unhealthy style OF
reading is established and the power Of the
Press for improvement is lost, or vastly dl-
minished. And this vicious taste which
the Press has nursed into life now pursues
it with insatiate appetite for more horrors.
Like the cumulative desire for certain poi
sons this taste is never satisfied. That
paper is considered stupid aid worthless
which does not abound in accounts
of murders, thefts, rape, arson, burgla
ries and the whole list of kindred horrors.
Thus q powerful pressure is brought to
bear upon the editor, to fill his local columns
with such matter as will feed this unhealthy
appetite. The reporter is foremost who
brings in the largest contribution of bad
deeds. Ever on the alert; trained to fol-
low and make the most of every trace ano
hint Of human wickedness or folly
he naturally gives to facts thu
largest proportions, invests rumors will
the authority Of facts, and gives to every
dim hint and suspicion tragical coloring
To multiply crimes pays, but crimes can
not exist without criminals, and so some
body must be BACKED and disgraced t.
make sensation for the market. A littl
while ago rumors Of improper conduct OF
the part Of some school girls reached tn
ears OF reporter in neighboring city
A reporter, laboring under this hideou
mania, makes this the subject of sensa
ton article, not naming but so describin
these children as to identify and disgrac
them. A libel suit follows and the news
Taper escapes by technicality.
The law ought to punish such offence
and allow no techAicalllty to shield the ma
who recklessly inflicts such irreparabl
wrong upon another. If there is an
provocation which can possibly justify
man to take the law into his own hands
is these wanton and inexcusable public'
tons. We protest against this bad practie
as wholly unworthy of our high calling
When the ends of justice and the prote'
ton of the innocent require the exposul
of crime the Press may we'll raise its voic
TO denounce the wrong-doer, and to SHE
innocence from oppression and wrong.
But when no such necessity calls for e
posture and publicity. for the sake of Of
common humanity, let the mantle of !
leuce cover the erring and the fallen.
To hide and heal the wound is far nobl
than to tear it open to the gaze OF me
How often the friends of the erring SCI
the editor to beg his silence. If they q
rich and influential 1t is rarelyfrefuse
Why should we discriminate Why r
adopt the better rale to exclude this vicio
class Of topics from those columns viii
may be made the vehicles of so much ba
piness and good influence if properly file
--x----------------
PRESIDENT GRANTS inaugural I
dress is ridiculed by the newspapers
Germany, which question whether mt
archical countries ought to MAINTAIN dip
matte relations with country VIII
chief thus insults them. 1t may ansv
very well for Germany to decline dip
matte relations with US, while the b
class of her population is pouring ii
this country and adding to the mater
wealth and grandeur of the great Amt
can Republic.
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A CINCINNATI seamstress, 1T Is 81
uses gray squirrel as a motive power