The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-23
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"Nu HO' an eAceptlonal one by any means. bub
now much more frequently such miscarriages
would be likely to occur il the mails were lur-
dened with saddlery hardware groceries, re ady
made clothing, and thousand other things ir
bundles not exceeding four pounds each.
Under what circumstances the an endment
was made so sweeping.remains to be explained.
1t would be altogether too much TO EXPECT that
the critics would await explanations. That is
not the fashion of our time. Denunciations Of
Mr.. Hamlin are circulating now through the
types. These especial raids upon some one
public man have a commercial value to a news
paper which is not at all understood by the
mass of readers. We will suppose some cross
town seven by nine editor wants to get adver-
tised in New York daily. His best chance to
compass that object is by writing "stiHger
on the senator, minister or congressman whom
the New York editor happens at that moment
to be making mouths at, and if he renders it
at all spicy and withal rancorous with abuse,
the chances are ten to one he will get rewarded
with the ''notice' he is fishing fol. Hundreds
of lampoons were hurled at poor Judge Poland
in this way by fellows who had no possible
conception of the meaning or intent of the
harmless statutory amendment which was
used to cover him with obloquy. These "opin-
ions of the press" manufactured for business
purposes, are as unreliable as the average cer-
tificates of the efficacy of aquack medicine; but
they must have their run, and while they can
be kept afoat some victim will be singled out
to serve as the point of attack. Since this
must be so can hardly imagine a less vulner-
able target than your eminent senator An
alta Iofa dau 10 TuO
tives or impugn his integrity could serve no
other purpose than to show how utterly reck-
less, shameless and mendacious partisan iourna-
lism had become, or to remove the last yes.
tige of claim to credibility which yet remains
TO an estate which has deliberately thrown
away great influence by the fragrant prostitu-
tion of it.
/ do not by any means accept the amend
ments. 1t looks as if there had been a mistake
made. But prefer to get at the facts-to hear
the argument-beforeI venture on decision.
Over in New Jersey village the other day,
lady took up the local paper, read para
graph ridiculing her household, handed 1t to
her husband aud asked him as she did so how
much longer that man was to be allowed 10
disturb the peaca and invade the sanctity Of
their household by such ribald attacks. Tho
incensed husband rushed to the EDITORS sanc-
tum, demanded to know If be wrote the offen-
sive article, was answered sffirmativey and
then fred pistol inficting wound which
was dangerous if not mortal.
There are two sides to every question and 1t
is necessary to hear both before one can reach
a competent decision. But assuming the story
as told to be true, assuming that an inno-
cent family had been made the subject
| of injurious comment on frequent occa-
| sions by man. whose position enabled
| him to give large circulation to his libel,
the libel not improbably helping to increase
his circulation-how large a degree Of con-
demnation can be morally visited upon the
aggrieved party, who has no other imaginable
means of redress? Libel suits are utterly
out of the lquestion. They cost a fortune and
last forever Society has right to some pro-
lection against species of brutality which
evidently was never thought possible when the
| principles of the common law were laid, as
| the code makes no provision for its punish
| ment. The New jersey tragedy opens up
grave question, the solution of which has bo-
come essential in view of the extraordinary
| licence which newspapers of wide circulation
have been practising of late years with abso-
| lutte indifference 10 privacy. position, or sex.
No man is SO exalted or so humble as to be
safe here if he has an enemy who can get the
public ear through the daily print. No matter
| how blameless his life, how just his dealings,
how clear his recttude il the order of attack
| is given he must prepare to find himself held
up to popular reproach as one of the worst OK
men. The crime of the Vineland editor, even
If there are no palliatiDg circumstances, is
trivial compared with offenses which are per-
petrated every day in our midst with complete
impunity. The good have been encouraged
and the bad warned by some notable examples
of jersey justice now and then. We shall see
what views they take of the case, and how
much respect they entertain for the ninth COM
| mandment
| Gov. Tilden has done brave and manly
| thing in opening cannonade upon what Is
known as the "Canal Ring" This word Ring
| is awfully slangy, but has grown into such gen.
eral use that 1t is difficult to avoid employing
| it, The men who have done the work of keep
ng the canals in repair have contrived to in
vove the state in great expense, and they have
| also exercised power in political circles quite
| beyond what their numbers or natural endow-
ments would warrant. They have usually man
! aged to have a voice in the conventions of both
parties, looking carefully after the composition
of those officers of. state who constitute the
canal board, with an eye always to the nomi-
nee for governor. They were opposed to Tilden
but could not prevent his selection. They are
| however represented in both branches Of the
legislature, and will join issue with the Exscu.
l N nh oh Fact Of
| pockets 1t will be war of giants, especially
if as limited, Ex-Governor Seymour is the
gentleman living not far from Utiea," to
whom a Canal Senator allHded in debate. THIS
is family quarrel and it would neither be pol
tic nor in good taste for me to take hand in
it, but my natural antipatby to every kind Of
combination within a party, to promote the
pecuniary or political interests OF certain In
dividual members of it, leads me to sympathize
| with the governor, YARMOUTH.