National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-26

ject slaves that no jury could be found here
to gives verdict against the plaintiff in suit
instituted under such circumstances. II
has been asserted that Washington is alto
gether q city of offiee-holders, dependent
upon the bounty of the Government whose
sole aim and object in life is to bow before
whatever administration is in power. How
unjust unfounded and. untrue ell this Is
may be seen by even cursory examina-
ton Of the statistics of the District. The
last census shows that In point Of popula-
ton we are the twelfth city in the Union
we believe now we are at least the tenth
-and that of the One hundred AMI thirty
thousand inhabitants of the District only be-
tween six and seven thousand hold Govern
ment offices. OF these not more than one
per cent. are liable to jury duty-can serve
upon juries in Wsshington-for the reason
that they are not citizens of the District
They belong to all the States and Terri
tories in the Union, and are unwilling to
surrender their citizenship. because their
positions depend, in great measure, upon
that fact and upon the favor of their SEN
ators and Representatives. 1t will thus be
seen that the very class which would be
likely to be subservient is debarred from
being of the slightest assistance in such
cases.
No matter what may be written to the
contrary, the enlightened public opinion of
the country, the public opinion that is not
moulded by the sensational newspapers of
the time, will ultimately sustain the action
of the Senate committee. There are num-
Der of newspapers, not more than ten or
twelve, which, during the sessions of
Congress, keep agents in Washington,
against whom no mans character is safe.
Their business seems to be libel and SANDER
and defamation Of character. Their agents
hold their hands upon the telegraph keys;
a reputation is destroyed in night, and the
SANDER, inspired by malice, disappointment
or political rivalry ard jealousy, travels
from Maine to California in a week and is
read by millions of people. The session
which has just closed furnishes hundred
illustrations The power thus vested in
these gentlemen is simply terrific. Not only
that but 1t is dangerous to society, If not
to the Government itself What the news
papers which denounce the section referred
to are contending for is not the freedom,
but the license of the press, A large num-
Der of newspapers have become so reckless
in their statements concerning public men
that it is really difficult to get good man to
run for or accept Office. The moment
public officer ofends an editor or q news
paper correspondent the chances are ten to
one that he will find himself next day de-
nounced as q thief or something worse.
This style Of journalism has become to q
certain extent popular; the newspapers
which indulge in it are called Smart" and
fearless" and independent. There are
shades and degrees of this Infamous style of
journalism. One stabs outright; another
murders by inuendo. Senator Carpenter
has written q letter upon the subject, and
we entirely agree with him that ''the bill is
" no more injurious to the publishers of
newspapers than every law must be which
"l looks to an impartial administration of
Justice" The legal argument for the
trial of such offences in this District is IN
answerable. The proposed bill may be
somewhat harsh, but the newspapers are
themselves to blame that it should be found
necessary to devise it.