Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-03
VIOLENCE NOT TO CONTROL THE PRESS

The press is not to be controlled by the blud-
geon. That was the method attempted in the
infancy of journalism, until it WAS found that
both sides could employ it. In Paris the writ |
ers for the press are generally expert duellists,
as ready with the sword as the pen, and in the
South, till Within a few years, shooting affray
WAS not uncommon episode in editorial life.
But nothing of this sort could or did silence the
press, for one class of men can shoot as well as
another and force met with equal force ac-
eomplishes no result.
The redress which every one really injured by
the press may seek is that opened by law to all
alike-not merly to the street bully and prize
tighter, to the duellist and swordsman, but to
tie weakest and feeblest citizen. If he has
been unjustly aspersed IT, as public man, or
one seeking the control of public AFFAIRS the
press has pushed its criticisms upon him to ex-
cess, he will scarcely fail in any law-abiding
community, to receive from judge and jury his
due redress, or if he does fail with them, the
community, seeing that he has been wronged,
will give him all the justification that verdict
could give But it is true that one who seeks
the law must have a case. More than that, he
must have character. He need not invoke the
penalties OF legal proceedings upon the press
unless it has wilfully and maliciously done him
injury, and even then he must, come into court
with clean hands. Corresponding to the motto
of one important branch of the law that he who
asks equity must do equity, 30 the
person who sues for the injury done
him by the press, must show that
he has character to be injured, and that the
;,I, tta. a1
him for were not justly the object OF offense.
He must have been 80 honest, so honorable, 30
go direct in his toward the public, that the
press representing the public interests, could
not fairly impugn his motives, or condemn his
character
Now such man, conscious OF clean record
sure of his own rectitude, need not hesitate &c
seek the laws protection against any invasion
Of his rights, whether by an individual or by
newspaper. The reader may think, in
moment, OF scores of citizens who even i'll pub
lie life are thus justly confident that no IN
fair shaft of detraction can harm
them. Such men do not fea
the press; indeed the press is their friend ant
any newspaper that would assail them woul
be stencil i'll the community's nostrs. The
uo llut ltdl W lHNOho tlo INV lOI lllolT plOleS
ton, for the law, too, is their friend. They nee
no bludgeon no pistol, none Of the weapons Q
the bully or the pugilist for they are secured b
higher, better, and more even-handed code i
every right which is of value to them.
The press is amenabe to the public censurt
for it draws its life from the public. 1t il amer
able 20 law, all are. 1t is to be reached an
controlled, in the interest of justice, either b
public opinion or by the courts OF law Etht
on both will be sufficient in even
case, Bat it is not to be controlled,
dehed, or unenaced by violence, aud il ts col
ductors were 80 mean that they could not defer
themselves, eowardly that they could not IL,
the game weapons as their assailants, with
severe effect, it would be a sorry day when u
rowdy and the bully should dictate the ute
snces of that strongest guardian OF the people
rights and peoples interests, the newspap
preas