New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-18

The control, entire or partial, of thu
columns of a newspaper, entails q re-
sponsibility commensurate with it's power.
To measure this responsibility by the law
of libel or the so-called code of honor
would be to greatly underrate it, if not to
wholly misunderstood it. It is not diff
cult to abuse the power conferred by such
control SO as to do great injury to the
reputation of individuals without subject
ing the injurer to the danger of libel
suit; and, as for trusting for IMMUNITY to
the prowess Of Fighting editor" and
boasting of willingness to be held ''rer-
sonally responsible" it shows an utter
unfitness for the position. And yet, to
the man of vindictive nature placed acct
dentally or temporarily in the editorial
chair, the temptation to use his newly
obtained power for his own petty ends,
to shoot off his private gun through the
columns under his control, seems,
judging from what we frequently see,
to be almost irresistible. Forgetting
that the province of the press is to dis
seminate news. to represent public in
terests and to examine questions of public
import. he can not resist the enticing
opportunity afforded by his position to
vent his petty spleen and air his petty
gossiplike knowledge. Especially is this
the case where personal or journalistic
rivalship exists, which is no uncommon
case. Misrepresentation of facts, garbled
extracts from the writings or speeches of
his opponents, the persistent repetition of
often disproved ISLANDERS, malicious and
damaging personal insinuations, too vague
tojustify the name of SANDER, but too plain
to be misunderstood and other
forms of newspaper attack debase the col
umns of many paper claiming the posi-
ton Of representative journal and boast |
ing Of its extensive influence. Such mis-
use of power. such impositions upon the
patience Of the public, when clothed in
language and bristling with tell
ling points. may tickle for a while the ears
OF the groundlings, or be endured as a
passing error by the more critical; but the
of private malice thus OBJ
tanned can only ipjure those guilty of it in
the estimation of the right-thinking and
judicious; and, if persisted in, must tend
to diminish sensibly the influence of the
paper so misused. The public can not
but weary of even the wittiest and most
cutting attacks upon individuals, when
such attacks relate to long past events or
'emi-private matters. "Have you no other
paper. boy, than the Daily Swapping
1urtle'" asks the elderly, ease-loving citi-
zen in the corner of the car .Any other
will do" mo, EUR, all the rest is sold," is
he unsatisfactory reply. So the boy goes
'rying "Ere's your daily Swapping Turtle"
nd the old gentleman settles himself to
lis reflections. Newspapers of the snap
ling turtle order soon pail upon the public I
aste, and by inducing a swapping back
n the part of those attacked, help to
over the tone of the press and diminish
is influence TO papers afflicted with
ncipient signs Of this disease it would be
yell, before deciding upon the publica-
ion of an article, to eriticise not only its
rammaf and style, but also its propriety
nd chance Of interesting the public in =
eneral. Such test would eonsign {
1any brilliant cutting" piece to the T
taste basket. but what would be thus
'st to private spite would be gained to
and responsibility. Instead of ,
ersopal filings, which are easily written
ut interesting to very few, matter of :
eight and public concern might be fur
ished, affording food for thought for the
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