The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-26
THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS


THE liberty of the Press consists in the
right to publish the truth from good motives
aud for Justlhable ends. "A lerdIlder Hamilton.
The writer of the above sentence was a
profound master of the English language
If he wrote, as some claim, for Washing
ton, the father of his countrys immortal
farewell address to his countrymen, Wash
ington doubtless employed him to do this
service because he knew that in the line of
composing public and patriotic papers,
Hamilton could do this work better than
he could himself.
But we do not IN this article propose to
discuss the value of anything attributed to
this great American scholar, patriot and
financier, which is of questionable author
ship. We have in mind few choice
words of his on the liberty of the news
paper press, which clearly furnish in view
of the pending public scandal an oppor-
tune theme for consideration.
A few self-called newspapers, affecting,
doubtless. quite as much outward virtue as
their conductors inwardly and heartily
fellowship, have either wholly or partially
ignored the details OF the Bcccher-Tilton
sensation and have stigmatized those jour
nails which have dealt with this case by
presenting its diversified sides and phases
fully and impartially TO their readers, as
panders to vice and immortality, and have
rolled their eyes in holy horror at the
wickedness of the Press in allowing the
parties interested to tell, in their own way,
their own stories. The real language of
this portion of the Press to that portion in
which the RUTLAND GLOBE is included, is,
'stand by myself, for l am holier than
thou" In a word, we are, in effect,
charged with transcending, not only the
legitimate limits Of journalistic liberty, but
as being lacking in personal morality, as
though we chose to publish such themes,
from taste rather than duty.
We take issue with this egotistical as
sumption. We claim that inasmuch as a
great public man, an influential leader of
thought, an eminent preacher of the theory
OF christian morals, an orator welcomed to
all our public halls, with not merely an
American but q transatlantic fame, second
to, perhaps, no other man in the world
inasmuch as such a man had been formally
and Enthusiastically charged with the
foulest of crimes, by parties assuming,
openly and above board, all the moral and
legal responsibilities of their terrible accu-
sations, it was not the duty of the press to
blink out of sight so grave matter that
it was matter of public concern that all
had right to know what was charged and
how and what was attempted to be proved
or denied. We hold that if Moulton and
Tilton have entered into an hellsh
conspiracy to destroy Henry Ward
Beecher, the public have a right
to know not only what their aim is but
what are their methods and means, that
when they fail, Gas fail they will, if so be
it, there is wicked conspiracy against
Beecher,) the public can see in that failure
how the fowler is shared in his own net
how the device of the wicked have come
to naught, and how "wicked inventions
return to plague the inventors" Yes, If
Mouton and Tilton are false accusers of
the great preacher and this is proven, not
by Beechers lcourt of paltizans, but
before competent and impartial
legal tribunal-a tribunal in which
the people have confidence, they will
be compelled to flee from this country,
branded felons, for they will be Kissed and
scorned by all, and the public journals of
the day, which portray their devilsh
schemes and final overthrow, will point a
valuable moral of warning to all who may
be inclined to break the decalogue and
"bear false witness against their neigh
bors."
On the other hand, If the once loved,
trusted, honored man, the man who has
basked in the sunshine of popular affec-
ton and favor, who has talked, and writ
ten, and prayed SO much and so WELL in
favor of purity, confluence and virtue, has
disobeyed another great command, "Thou
shalt not commit adultery" then the pub
lie have right 10 know his means and
methods in the commission of his crime, as
well as in his cunning but futile plans to
escape exposure, that when he falls, as
fal! he must If proven guilty, the world
may take note of ruin so great and a
retribution so fearful, just and immediate !;
one that shall impress upon all the lesson
of all experience that "the way of the