The New York herald., 1875-12-29
The Duty OF the Press 10 the
Public.

A letter from the Rev. William Adams,
President of the New York Institution for
the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb,
which we print to-day, emphatically contra
diets statements which have recently been
circulated in respect to its condition and
management The defence appears to be
complete. This institution is governed by o
board of twenty -four members, who meet once
month and hold special meetings in cases
of emergency. Two such meetings have
been held during the present epidemic. 1t
has an executive committee of five members,
who reside near the institution and visit it
constantly. They also meet thrice month,
and two of these meetings occur on days
unknown to the officers. There is also q
visiting committee appointed for each
month, which investigates the management
at times unknown to the officers and returns
a full report to the Board. There is also a
ladies' committee, which performs similar
services and reports monthly. There are
two consulting physicians, who not only
give their attention to the sick, but
w bho VI preventing 5lChncoS.
A superintendent. who is also practising
physician, has for his sole duty to look after
the management of the institution, leaving
the instruction of the children entirely to
the regular teachers In the last five years
twenty thousand dollars have been expended
in ventilation and drainage, and it is now
proposed to spend from eight thousand dol
lars to ten thousand dollars more for these
purposes. These are facts which show thor
ough organization, and the names of the
officers and directors ought to be guarantees
that the active management is faithful and
diligent. The public must now acquit the
managers of causing by their neglect an
epidemic which it seems no care could pre-
vent. The institution has, at all events, the
right to demand that any further charges
against it shall be made by responsible au-
thority and not as matters of mere report.
Independently of our desire to do justice
to this particular institution we are glad to
print President Adams letter as an opportu-
nifty of pointing out the duty of the press in
all such cases of unintentional wrong. 1t is
the province Of q newspaper to collect and
publish facts Of public interest at once.
good journal endeavors to be as accurate as
it is prompt But it is just as impossible
for paper to verify every day every sepa-
rate item of news it publishes as it would be
for merchant to have the accounts of his
bookkeeper and clerks examined daily by a
committee Of experts. 1t must trust to the
integrity and intelligence of its reporters
and correspondents Where hundreds are
employed some one is always liable to be i'm
posed upon. 1t Is here that great newspa-
per can not only afford to correct those mis-
takes which arise out of human fallibility,
but is bound to do so for the sake of its own
character We wish to say that the HERALD
considers the correction of any misrepresen-
tation or misstatement in its columns as
news Of the highest value. Even if the truth
is not Of interest to the public it is Of i'm
portance to US We therefore ask all per-
sons and all institutions who conceive that
they are wronged in any way by statements
in the HERALD to notify us of the fact They
will receive a full and impartial hearing
We would have the HERALD to be not only a
court of general sessions, but also court of
appeals just and strong enough to reverse
its own decisions and to render every man
his right without fear of the charge of ignor-
ance or inconsistency. For Justice all
places temple and all seasons summer"