New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-27
PHILADELPHIA.
THE PRESS MUZzLED.

DKNouNCp OFFICIAL CORRtpTIoN-IIABuITY TO
IMPRISONMENT FOR THE STATEMENT OF FACTS
no CRITICISM OF MEN IN OFFICE
lrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE IhipoNh|
PHILADEIPHIA June 25-It will not be news TO
ANYBODY to be told that Philadelphia is ruled by
Ring. but venture to say that there are very few
peoole outside of this city who know how
powerful this Ring is, how defiant OF public
opinion and how difficult to attack. 1T Is
far better intrenched than was the Tweed King
in its palmiest DAYS. In New-York the tire
nendous engineTy of the press, when once turned
with it's full force upon the A" Tammany thieves,
broke down all their defenses and crushed them to
powder. Here the press is shaekled by Libel Law
which makes il a criminal offense to print anything
damaging to the reputation Of officials, no matter
how strong the evidence may be of their corruption
Administered by courts constituted by the Rlng 10
do its bidding this law muzzles the newspapers
that those desiring be independent and to expose
abuses are obliged speak i'll such guarded point
less way about rank offenses under their very eyes
and noses that their utterances are lost upon the
public.
An editor may have conclusive evidence that
certain official has plundered the CITY of thousands
of dollars by making contracts at exorDltant prices
and pocketing heavy commission we may sup
nose this editor N be man of honor. conscious OF
his RESPONSIBILITIES 10 the public and anxious to ana
in reforming the evils which he knows to prevail IN
the City Government. What does he DO with
these facts in bis possession3 Publish them
and denounce the guilty official a public
robber7 Not at ALL He knows that If he
should do this he would be the sufferer
while the exposed thief would 60 scot free Mr.
City Official would at once have the editor indicted
for lbel-no suit for damages, remember but a
criminal indictment-the case would come on for
tral before judge owing his place to the official
and bis friends in the Ring; jury would be impan-
eled of the hangers-on around the courthouse and
the editor would speedily be sentenced to serve out
a term in Moyamensng Prison in the society of
felons.
But he could offer in evidence proof of the truth of
his charges Won will say. No, he could not and
this is just what makes thel Pennsylvania Libel law
such q tremendous instrument OF terrorism ana
oppression in the hands of the Ring. The greater
the truth the greater the libe is the theory of the
law. Nor would it avail to plead that the pubhca-
ton was made in the interest OF public justice. III
the matter were in itself lbelous and the suit were
pressed with hostile judge and jury, there wouldbe
no escaping conviction The only recourse would be
an appeal for pardon TO a Governor elected by the
infamous frauds of the Ring, and thoroughly III
sympathy with all its purposes. To Jail the editor
would be sure to go, and when the keys had turned
on him. Mr.. City Official would celebrate his victory
bya nice little champagne supper and would no
1NNN
devil, but that it was time chose newspaper fel-
lows should be taught not TO NEEDLE with other
peoples business.
But let us suppose the editors friends, or some
Citizens Reform Association, take the matter up.
while he lies In JAIL and bring suit against the
official on the proof he obtained Would not here be
an ultimate remedyi Not the faintest hope of 1t.
The unfriendly courts would grant post ionement
after postponement, and if the case ever came to
- ha at
prosecution had disappeared or forgotten all they
ever knew and that a cloud of witnesses for the
defense had sprung up like flies from the gutter
The verdict would be acquittal or if by some unex-
pected plan in the working of the judicial machinery
justice should be meted out to the offender. pardon
would be dispatched from Harrisburg as soon as
required.
knowing how it would all turn ont, the editor
prudently keeps the facts to himself and talks in
his paper in way that Is not direct effective of
the corruptlons in official life and of the importance
of oyerthrowing the Ring. A correspondent is III
the same predicament. He is held personally ac-
countable for matter supposed TO have been written
by him and printed in paper in another State A
prudent and experienced journalist narrowly es-
caped three months in prison at hard labor not long
ago for an item of news he telegraphed to New
York paper, every word OF which was
true. Here, then, is the great power of the
medium for the expression of public opinion. No
PHILADELPHIA paper and no correspondent in Phila-
denhia of paper published elsewhere would be safe
in naming the members of the Ring and enumerating
their misdeeds, nor at the risk of conviction for
felony could il be said in plain terms You, A. b. Z,
and Dealing by name the 10 or IL men who COM
,ose the Ring-are the worst olIgarchv that fas
tened itself upon city having republican form OF
government; YOU are plunderDg the Taxpayers OF
millions every year; You have piled an enormous
load of debt upon the people, and cannot even
show a single welpaved street for the money
Won collect annually a tax of 81 20 in the 500 on
full cash valuation of property, and spend at least
third of it dlshonestly you have terrorized or cor
rupted the public press; through the influence OF
fear or greed YOU have obtained the support OF
powerful moneyed corporations; you Systematically
perpetuate your power by stutfiDg balot-boxes and
debauching election officers, and you laugh at the
righteous indignation of an outraged people; III
short you are precious lot of rascas and II there
were some Botany Bay TO which you could all be
Skinned Philadelphia would be greatly the gamer
in reputation and in pocket The fact that every
count in this indictment could be proved, would
only increase the danger of making 1t.
WHY bring up this matter now, with the Summer
heats upon us the reader may well ask. l am
aware that nobody feels like tackling gigantic
wrongs or Juggling at firmly rooted corruption with
the thermometer at 90. refer to the subject now
because the nominations for judicial officers, Con-
eressmen and members Of the Legislature, made
in this city this week, open political campaign
which may in time become interesting. Asst pro-
eeeds people who are not aware that the Ring has
grip ON the throat of the press may wonder why
this or that paper does not expose the patent ras-
&. Ill In 10 nm for al