The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-31

take the case out of the tribunal. Any
iourual NAV decline, if 80 minded, to en-
cumber its columns with the evidence in
this case. The lawyers who are defending |
Mr.. Beecher have perfect right and it is |
their clear duty to protract the produc- |
ton Of evidence as long as they may deem
iudicious and as the court will permit. 1t
Is always open to anybody who is in the at.
titude of spectator OF the trial and
who gets tired Of it, to walk out
Of the court room and 60 about
his business. And in like manner 1t Is
always open to journalists who knew al
about the case before it began to De trleo
and who took pleasure in reproducing
everything that was said by or about the
neonle who took their view OF the matter,
to refr,se To print single syllable uttered
nv the people who do not take their view
ri the matter. For our own part, while
we would gladly have escaped the necessi-
80 of neddling with the case at all, we have
carefully edited from time to time so much
of the evidence on either side as seemed to
ne particularly interesting or significant.
sni tLarewith also fit to be printed in q
decent journal but we have as carefully
labstained from summing up or comment.
ling upon that evidence. 1t not only is nc
business of the press to do this; it is the
duty of the press not to do this. The prin
ciple which requires every judge to keeE
lorder in his court and to forbid all expires
sions of applause or of disapprobation b!
the audience In his tribunal is identlca
with the principle which forbids publl
/ journalists to try q case from day to day il
= their columns while it is trying in court
To import public opinion in any form int
the trial of such case is neither more no
, less than incipient Lynch law 1t is sui
: ficient objection on this account to the cor
I sideration of the bill recently introduce
into our legislature for allowing courts t
: receive the evidence of wives agains
g their husbands, that it was introduced int
IS the legislature during the trial of this pal
f ticular case out of which arose the suggeS
= ton which gave birth to it. This detest:
BILE Brooklyn business has done and will d
d the country injury enough in q thousan
|. various and subtle ways It is intolerabl
20 that it should be used to SubyeIt the pun
. lie respect for the established rules OF la
and the public reliance upon our trlbI
l. nails of Justice. When the case sha
W have been closed, and the jury sha
have given their verdict, it will be in o.
d der for those who care to do it
is review the conduct of the case by tt
If counsel on either side. While the case
is going on it is an attack upon the yer
at foundations of society to howl at the lay
to yers on one side or on the other for disa
is pointing either the settled convictions
1e the partizans of one or the other side,
lit the appetite of scandalmongers in or o
no of the public press. The best way
he which the press can serve the interests
r. instice in community is to assert al
st maintain the absolute independence OF
,st courts and its tribunals, in their metho
at and in their proceedings, against pub
to clamor and popular Impotence. Fro
Dis the very constitution of the public pre-
ell indeed, it is rather more than doubt
lot whether it ever can serve or ever b
an served the interests of justice in CO.
nd munity in any other way New 70
tn World.