Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-02-23
THE vREEDoM OF THE PRESS.

In the American Republic We have
none Of the odious pres laws which dis
grace the government Of France and
some other nations Of the Old World.
and render the printing Of an indspsnd-
eut Newspaper almost an inpossibility.
The freedom Of the press has ever been
regarded - o Of the principal bul
varks Of our institutions Of liberty. and
a. such has always been ~jsalously guarded
from infringsmsnt since The foundation
Of the Union. The fathers took ths broad
ground which their SON have ever since
held, that there could b no genuine
freedom. unless freedom Of expression.
both by word Of mouth and Of pen. was
unrsstrainsd. and 90 believing. they
buils up that syste. Of free speech and
. free press which has eliminated In
making Of America the greatest nswspa-
per country in the world. That IL was
a wise system. the grand results which
have flowed from Il, in the general edu-
cation Of the masses on topics OF M.
tional and local interests. sminsntly
proves.
But the freedom OF the press does not
include. aud wa never meant to in
cluds, the license TO stir mp strife and
ineits revolution. The Newspaper 10
perhaps the greatest engine Of modern
tunes. II makes and mmakss nations
and rulers. and its potent lever moves
the world OF mind. This tremendous
power in the hands Of an INSCRIPTIONS
man. may b productive Of the most
dire results. An intsmpsrsts word
spoken in the heat OF passion. may
sever friendship. ~sndpossibly lead to In.
dividnal crime: bst there the evil snds.
vitalizs that same word by the printers
lux. and Il dies all over the land. lsav-
ing its dangerous poison In the breasts
Of thousands. perhaps millions. and
may bear fruit which will svsrturn q
nation. It certainly never vas intend
ed by the fathers TO license evil men to
incite murder and revolution. when
they established the grand principle Of
free speech and q free press.
What. then. 10 the liberty Of the
press. Of which we have boasted so long
III 40 loudlyi It is q liberty q . large
and comprehensive as the freedom Of
humanity itself. just this. na.no'bing
more. Tho man who commits murder
l. punished for the crime. II IL Be
proven that his intentions we're known
by some other person than himself.
or that the crime was melted by
some other. that other In justly held
and punished ~ an accessory be-
fore the fact. The right OF men
to enjoy life. liberty. and the
pursuit OF happiness. does not include
the right to injure others In the enjoy
ment Of these rights /; and so with n
public journal. its right to freedom Of
expression does not include the right to
maliciously damage the character or in.
terssts Of individuals. And u this be 10
where individuals only are concerned.
how much more should the principle be
regarded. where the interest tho very
life. p~erhaps-of = great nation Is at
stake
That . newspaper has q perfect right
TO criticiss the actions Of an administra-
ton. point out its errors. and even con-
denim Il in harsh or opprobious Ian
guags. there can be no doubt. II 10 the
province OF the American Journal to
keep the public posted on the news Of
the day. and educate Il politically by in
t.liicent comment ON passing events.
Condemnation Of . policy believed to be
wrong. or Of an official Who 10 thought
to BE- b~strayins the interests Of his coun.
try. is right and proper. But to cOun.
vel disregard Of the laws which are pro-
perly made. TO advise the assassination
OF . President legally elected. because
hs happens 70 represent an opposition
party : to attempt to ineits rebellion
against the constitutional authorities Of
the nation. and>at q time OF exceptional
political excitement. 70 fomsnt rsvolu-
Il n and civil war; thsss are things
which cannot be justified by the most
liberal construction Of the theory Of the
freedom Of the press.
whether OF not an offsass Of this
kind AN Be brought within the scope Of
Law. 20 a. TO secure merited Punish-
msnt for the offender. 10 still an open
question. Such depth Of d~sPravity az
that exhibited by Don Pistt In hi.
infamous firebrand which he hurled
into q peaceful country ON Sunday was
never contemplated. either BY the Con-
stitution or Congress. Should IL Be
found now that this man cannst Be
legal. convicted Of any crime. u will b
the boundsn duty Of the National
Legislature to at once pass . Law to
cover such cases in the future. Such q
law should clearly define the difference
between the liberty Of the press and
unrsstrained license. and should make
ths penalty for the latter 90 heavy that
the coming Don Piatts will think long
and well before they pen articles melting
~bloodshed and revolution.
CHAIRMAN MoRRIsoS 10 disposed TO
4" grin aud bear it," In answer to q
telegram from st. Louis saying that the