The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-24
A War Upon a Free Press.

| "S IL ever occurred 10 inc IclQCl
20 ask himself why it is that corrupt
men OF all grades and al! politics, are
always and everywhere found cher
isiiliiS sicii Il special, cordui, yindici-
i've hatred for the press? WHY it is
that the first impulse Of an cndan-
gered "ring" or u frightened "boss''
Is to turn upon the newspapers to
call it hard names; TO threaten to
crush it; sometimes 10 aitempt to
carry the threat into oxccution
Why it is that every unfaIth(ui pub
lie servant; every tainted Congress
man or legislator: every taking
Judge, every dishonest Official, high
or low, is lond-mouthcl and eloquent
on the unbridlcd license of ahc press,
its propensity for blackenfng good
mems characters, aud the need OF
more effective checks upon this pro-
pcnsity?
The why is very simple. Public
robbers and public co!rupters hate
the newspaper, because they instinct
lively recognize in it their dendliest
enemy. The Newspaper means pub
licity, detection, punishment. Like
all of their trade, they have great
aversion to the light. They shun OBJ
scrvation. All they want is TO be
let alone. Now the newspaper re-
fuses TO let them alone. Ic.is forever
prowiing around, turning on the
lantern at inopportme moments,
catching them in the act, raising the
hue and cry at their heels, bringing
them generally to grief. iftbey feel
hardly toward it, it must be admit
ted that they have very substantial
grounds. Their hatred is compound
ell in equal parts Of dread and pre-
monition.
That the corruptionists and their
next friends should be found railing
with foul -mouthed voubility at the
newspaper, is not, under the cireum-
stances, q very surprising or unnatu
raj phenomenon. eff you have nc
case, abuse the plaintin's attorney
These gentlemen have no case, and
Tie nc,cSp0per IS not only ne peoples
attorney, bit otten its 0e!cctice und
Jdi1iT into The bargain. Ihe queer
;hing is, that honest anJ reputable
citizens, Of fair intelligence and
! hlamclcss private moraIs should he
found joing in this .aOase. They
''farc opposed on gefiisi2ff principles te
thicving. They have 70 natural
! affinity with the -.thcveSS Forced
into corner, they wi. 4i thtt il
is desirable crime of tlis spr; should
be exposed and tho criminals brought
to justice. The great mniority T.
,hcm will be forced TO atthit. if The,
, arc candid ana truthful, That thoS
themselves have done little OF 10th.
ing, and are doing little or nothing.
in any practical way, TO arrest the
spread of this dry-rot Of official i'm,
morality which has already made
such fcarlul Roadway.
1t is not simply desirable, it is su.
prcmely necessary, that the country
be got out of this way rs soon rs
possible. But it never can be got
out Of it unless the people arc !hor.
oughly awakened to the fact and
danger. That is what 4!t American
newspapers worthy the name, Of
whatever politics, have been trying
to do. They have used The prope,
and only means to that end Tho
dcplorablc thing is, not that they
should talk so much about corrup
ton, but that there shoulG be so mucl
corruption for them TO talk about
70 quarrel with them for their fidelity
in the discharge Of Il most unpleas
ant but most urgently necessary pub
lie d::ty is as sensible rs il would he
: for the patient aud friends to holt
the physician responsible for the dis
ease.
That nnwsDoDnrs mako ,nietol,cc