Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-17
The ssepherd.Dsna Libel Suit.

twill be .eel that Judge Blatchford, of New
York Yesterday denied, on technicailty, the
application for a war sant to bring Mr.. Charles
A. Dana to this city to answer charge Of hbel
on Mr.. A. X. Shepherd.
Mr.. Dans's friends In ike courtroom openly
applauded the decision, thus showing that they
considered ii q triumph; but this triumph is not
one to be proud of. Had Mr.. Dana published
only the truth, he would have nothing to fear
from a court of justice. He would have the op-
pOrtunity TO establish facts and vindicate the
integrity OF his course in journalism, he could
do in no other way. But 1t is to be noted that
his whole course is one OF evasion, and resist
ance OF the efforts of those who claim TO have
been injured in his columns to make him prove
the truth OF his allegations in a court of justice.
lie entrenChes himself in New York city, where
the ways OF the law are peculiar, and seems 70
RELY on a system Of terrorism over the courts
there to save him from any penalty for the
ISLANDERS he sends ont through his paper to
make il sell. Mr.. Dana dares not to-day venture
out from his shelter in New York, or set his foot
IN any other State in the Union, lest he should
be brought up TO answer for ISLANDERS on citi-
zens of those States. Is this an honorable po-
sition for an American editor to hold-that of
an outlaw who attacks reputation from the
shelter of his cave. and dares not come out to
confront those he has assailed?
Mr.. Bartlett, Dana's counsel, in his argument
before Judge BlatchfOrd yesterday, made the
following admission: He would show, he said
''that so far a. the composition of this alleged
libel is concerned, OF its going into print,
Mr.. Dana had nothing to do with it, that he was
not in the city when it was printed; that he
knew nothing Of it; and further that he disap-
proved OF its being printed, and would not have
printed it if it had come to his knowledge"
This was Mr.. Dana's plea in court, but was he
ever known TO make any amends in his paper
for injuries wantonly done to reputation? And
Mr.. Dana cannot escape by saying that he knew
nothing of this particular libel. The whole
policy of the Sun, as dictated by himself, is one
of SANDER and libel. The whole stock In trade
Of the Sun is the getting up of three pages daily
OF reckless malignant ISLANDERS, and any con-
tTibutOr is welcome to that paper who is willing
to supply his quota of this class of matter. Any
lying scOundrel, for instance, who has been
turned out of Office for cause, bluffed in some
black mailing or plundering project, can find
ready and unquestioned access TO the Columns
Of the Sun 10 villify the District Government
IL Il nataTsl, perhaps, that the press Of the
country, jealous Of its rights, should look with
disfavOr upon libel suits, and should to some
extent sympathize with Dana in resisting this
warrant; but il is question to be considered
whether paper run on the INSCRIPTIONS,
malignant course of the New York sun has any
claims 10 the consideration and exemption due
TO fair, conscientious journals that will not
willingly injure character, and are always ready
to make amends when they have done so IN
willingly. 1t is a question whether fair minded
journalists do not lower and soil their own
standard by using it to screen the ruffianIy
career Of papers like the New York San.