Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-11-24
THE PRESs-.-IN GENERAL.

THE PREss-.-IN GENERAL.
The present libel suit brought by the
San Francisco Bulletin and Call against
the Daily Alta is an anomalous feature
in journalism. Nothing is commoner
than an irate individual with real or
imaginary cause OF grievance tickling
lawyers palm with fees in a libel suit
against journal, the unfortunate editor
OF which has in moment OF generous
impulse and high desire to serve the |
public held said individual up to public |
contempt or ridicule. But one journal
bringing a libel suit against another for
alleged defamation Of character and in
Jury to business is novel spectacle and
will no doubt elicit considerable interest
az the suit progresses. Looking at the
press entirely in the abstract and with
out special reference to territorial lines.
the growth Of it's power and influence is
a matter Of comment and partially OF
congratulation. II ia power in the
land and from what has been happily
styled the fourth estate" in England
has risen to the dignity Of equality and
almost precedence with and Of any insti-
tuition in this country, Its freedom is
the palladium OF civil liberty and its
abuse lesser evil than its constraint or
lessened power. In connection with this
latter statement may be noticed the an.
tagonism and remonstrance OF men ir
every walk Of public life against the con
slant vituperation and general misrepre
sentation Of the press. OF course sucf
a censorship implies an idesie statesman
ship, and official incumbenta aye, SCORED
and mercilessly criticised in exact pro.
portion as they approach or recede from
this ideal. 1t is matter worthy of briei
consideration, does tho press in present
ing this ideal of public life, this concep-
ton of what public man should he en-
deavor to make its idea practicable, Oh
does it simply content itself with, like
the sign post, pointing out the road leav
ing others to follow it. II so, though !
serves an excellent purpose yet 1t can d.
more and devote its efforts to practica
fnl6llment. In this we speak Of tn
independent press, party organs grin'
party tunes, are bought with pric
and serve their masters, and, withou
quarreling with their tastes, can onl
wish them q good appetite. II som'
times occurs that an independent iourn'
is more busily engaged in defending
own course-after the fashion Of the mi
that, because he said the horse was 81
teen feet high stuck to it-than in turtle
ing the lofty sentiments it commend
This course, though extremely naturt
is lily calculated to serve true purpos
It is based on the direct journals,
axiom that II judgment is dscredit
influence is weakened; and if a journa
ideas are found to be erroneous, or has
ON unworthy motives, its value is as
moulder, or even exponent OF pub
opinion is weakened and will be eve
ually destroyed. This IL the weak pc
Of the independent press; the rock
which it is apt to split; the converge
point of two roads, each easily entel
but widely divergent. An independ
journal is often found wishing it had
ADOPTED certain course or advocated
certain measure To 60 on is derogat
to its character; to recede, fatal to
influence, and TO stand still in III acc
with its expressed character. Here q
10 where the personality OF Journal
crops ont; il the editor lacks iudgm
he cant help evincing it; AMI,
he tries to be infalible, always ril
right, be furnishes positive proof OF
inability and unftness. An overzeal
desire. a straining after influence o
misconception of the relation bstw
cause and effect. may unite inplacing
unfortunate journalist in such posit
and it is far easier to get into sucl
quagmire than to get out OF 1t. The
dependent press essays to serve
country; the partisan press also des
the same thing, but through the med
of the party whose principles it az
Gates. And here is the strong poinI
the independent press. that by its
nounced method and tone it can advo
the party that. in its opinion. is for
country's good; and, with due rel
for consistent propriety, can co.ope
with all lofty impulse. patriotic de-
public improvement and general 9
II has help for the weak, counsel to
doubtful, lash for the meroiless
words OF caution to official rashness
soni6ed in existing incumbents.
success in its infant efforts should re
the support OF all, that in its mar
strength it may be able to cope with
follies and abuses of the age that
contributed by its excesses to call it