Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-05-18
LTIEL srITs AGAINST NEwsrA.

for libel has never been q very pronta-
bic businsss. u never paid very good
dividsnds, and generally stock In such
suiss comes undsr the head Of The ~
ssssusns variety. II has been. ID. and
always viii b. hard mattsr 70 anda
Jury 10 convict . Newspaper or Journal
is, Of libel. This Is right. Tho duties
of an editor. - veil - The province OF
. newspaper in these days. embrace .
large share Of criticism. 1t has become
the duty Of both 10 hold up in Just
color tho ~malfsasanco Of public ofaosrs.
and in numerous cases investigations Of
Urea. public benefit have owed their on
gin, prosecution and successful tsrmi-
nation 70 the energy and fsarlsss-
mess Of unpurchasable Journals and
naiists. knowing this. and recognizing
the fact that to . large sztsnt the news
paper Of to-day IL the guardian Of pop
ulsr rights. the tribune bsiors whom
tho acts Of public men are tried and
convicted or acquitted. they are allowed
much liberty Of uttsrancs. and though
sometimes technically guilty Of the
crime Of libsl. r rarely punished
thsrsfor. But This very immunity
from penalty should. and usually does.
operate a. . guard and check upon
tho conscience Of an honorable editor.
Editors, q . class. arc careful OF what
hey publish. They are more jeal-
Gus Of their own and the reputation Of
their paper than unthinkins persons are
apt 70 bslisvs. But with this conserve
liam ID also combined . fearlsssnsss In
The discharge Of plain duty which makes
than at once an aid 10 honest govern
msns and . terror TO evf dosn. Nu-
marcus ugly and persistent contests have
bssn inausurstsd by influential j~ournalsL
Among them ve may mention tho in
vsstieation and trial which led 70
the downfall Of Boss Tweed. and the
Credit Mobiisr ezpos. The latest con-
s-picuous instance Of this trait Of the
upright and fearless journalist. is the
Wal recently made BY the Springfield
(Mass.) R,p~sioan upon Mr.. Willis
Phelps. . wealthy contractor OF that
city. Following 10 q summary Of the
case o. II has progressed thus far. which
we clip from an Eastern exchange:
New railroads were projected. TO con
meet with Springfield. and . donation OF
$500, 900 secured from that city In fur.
thsrsnce Of the scheme. Mr.. Phelps
son procured himself TO be elected to
the General Court, and thas both
father and son lobbied and voted. until
they rivaled tho Tammsny ring in i'm
pudsncs and approached II in power.
The R<publioaa took hold Of Mr..
Phslps, handled him without gloves,
called him the Boss Tvood Of Spring
hsld, charged him with "bidaing for
city jobs," "openly buying votes"
lobbying bills through tho Lcgis-
lature,'' and with having "dcspoilsd the
city Of Q large sum Of money" and
with "usng Il 10 obtain more" Mr..
Phelps sued the BPubioan for $200, 900
and the action has just been concluded
before Justice Endicott. Of the Supreme
Court. Mr.. Phelps Prsfsring the
court 70 . jury. In an elaborate
decision Judge Endicott reviews all tho
evidence In tho cass. concluding his do
cisiou In theas vards: "I DO hnd that
Mr.. Wallis PhslpS was guilty Of illegal
and Improper practices. and was q party
TO influences corrupting TO the eommu-
nifty; and the only question II what .
man 10 10 receive when such facts are
published. He 10 certainly not TO re-
COVE large damages; Judgment is there
fore entered for Si00." Editor Bowlss
failed 10 substantiats. directly. the
charge that Mr.. Phelps took part Of the
money bonus obtained from tho city OF
Springfield and used Il TO obtain more;
and upon this minor issue tho plaintiff
takss his verdict and secures 500 rec
ompsnss for the caustie castigation OF
the Rspubioan. supplemented nov by .
judicial assertion that ''hs was q party
TO influence. sorrupting TO the commu-
nifty" Both ddss have appealed from
the decision; Nj. Phelps to secure .
new trial before . jury. and Mr.. Bovles
10 SEQ II In Massachusetts, tho tail don't
20 with the hide" or in other words,
whether the verdict against him ''eon-
s.s