The Russellville Democrat., 1875-04-01
THE PRESS AND THE
 PISTOL.
Personalities in Journalism.

Personalities in Journalism. The Landis- Carruth tragedy brings up the question of person al redress for grievances by the press; and forces us to express surprise at the inadequate protec- tion afforded by the law against a licentious and corrupt press. Tho liberty and freedom of the press as shadowed in legitimate and honorable journalism, is the boast of American statesmen; and while it cannot be too sacredly guarded, it is, in our mind, alto gether a different thing to guard the freedom of the press, and to license and encourage an abuse of the privileges of Journalism. In the case before us we see ex- emplifled the evil results of this inadequate protection to private character. Here we have 1t. in it's most aggravated form. Here we have striking illustration of the degree to which journalism may be abused and private charac- ter injured, with impunity, so far as any remedy at law is concerned. Here is case, where for years, Q virulent and vindictive editor has lampooned and slandered a private individual Responsibility and large philanthropic views; who has, by his abuse of the priv ileges of journalism dragged be- fore the public, with q degree of maliciousness apparent to all ob- servers, the private faults and de- fects of a personal enemy, always with that insiduousness and studi- ed guardedness which rendered it utterly impossible to reach him through the law. Mir. Landis states that he has had legal coun sel watching for long time for an opportunity to hold his tor mentor ameniable to the law for islander, but, that never yet has his skillful persecutor placed him. self within the grasp of the law. Without coming out plainly and unequivocally and charging his foe with theft or some other indict- able offense-which charge per haps, he knew he could not sustain, this unfortunate and misguided editor has managed through his paper, to malign and torment the object of his spleen, until lie has been made a burden, and until the hot passions of human nature which are implanted to some de gree in every human breast, could no longer brook the insults, or be controlled by the ordinary consideration of the fear ful consequences of seek ing personal redress. TT is a sad case, and the victim of these long persecutiohs-now the avenger of his wrongs-is scarce ly less to be sympathized with, than the misguided editor, who by his indiscrction and abuse of his profession, has entailed upon himself the penalty of outraged rights, is to be pitied.
 The case has a general bearing upon the whole fraternity of jour nalists, and demonstrates the ne- cessity of correcting this growing tendency toward personalism. Journalism must be placed upon more elevated plane; the abuses of its privileges must be stopped; the press must purify itself; the misguided creatures who have no better conception of the correct principles of legitimate journal is;;ii'Tt iiss;;i than to make their papers in struments through which to vent their spleen on private foes, must be forced. to abandon the profes. sion which they disgrace. The moral tone of public opinion should correct these evils; if that is not sufficient to accomplish the needed reform, then this kind of freedom of the press, must be met with more stringen. libel laws which will afford some adequate protection to private character.
 ThankSgiying Day at RuSSell-