The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-08-11
POOLS RUSH IN WHERE ANGELS FEAR tt
TREAD"

Recently in one of the cities of Illinois, q
councilman took in high dudgeoo criti-
clam of tae editor of the leading paper IN
that place, and pugnsciously denied the right
of the journalist to criticise his, or his CO.
councilmen's actions in tho subject-matter OF
dispute or any other that might come be-
fore the grave and reverend seign-
ors in their assembled wisdom. The
impetuosity of the city father
came nigh unto precipitatipg very serious
and perhaps fatal difficulty, by way OF aolv-
ing for himself question that the common
sense of the world had long ago settled, and
It's common custom long since aequiesced in.
The trouble was averted however BY friends
of the irascible representative refusing to sus-
tain or endorse the folly of his course. Akin
in nature to some of the points involved
in the above cited case were those raised
by county judge Of Galveston county, in
tho suit for libel sgainst the News, and
which-wss latterly decided sgainst the plain
tiff in actor. 1t is very amusing to the OBJ
server of human nature to note how espe-
cially particular, not to say blatant, is the
seeker after official honors within the gift of
the "dear peoples" how excoriating he is
on the "ins;" how severely critical he be-
comes upon the acts, votes, ETC., of the
party he is endsavoring to Dust; how
diligent ho is in showing how much
he could and would improve upon all
the past reckiessness and inattention TO duty,
etc, etc. 1t is one of the privileges and 1t is
the duty of the public journalist, IS things
now go, to give fully, and with the stric'est
impsr,iality and justice, of the scenes that
may b transporting, and in like spirit to
comment on any matters concerning The
veal or woe of their readers and the public
generally. Every person, as well |. every
newspaper. may freely write or publish
with perfect impunity oil fair and just cri,i-
c'sms upon public officials, upon
their character, habits, mental and
moral qualifications, and gener.
fitness or uufsness for the positions filed.
This criticism, this animsdver.ion may be of
the most hostile sort, provided il be made in
good faith, and in discharge Of . public
duty, and without malice. This is the law
of The land, based. upon that provision in
the organic framework which guarantees the
freedom CT the press So matter Of public
erpedisncy. No man has any cause of sc-
ton against nevspsper when be is public
officer, or even q candidate for election TO
public Office, because Of any criticism or
strictures made ~ above iDdicsted. They
are individuals who receive tom.thing, yea.
very much from the community they rep
resent, viz The confidence which vote i'm
plies Of their ability, integrity and other
proper qualifications; they receive Of the
moneys from the pockets Of the tar payer;
and their conduct more or less rtfscs upon
those sho elevated them 10 power. For
tbs.s several reasons and Others, they are
ana should be held 70 the sirictsst
accountability, not merely for con
so;sutious conformity with duty bat 10
an intelligent and most e1psdisnt admin
issrstion thsrsof 0n tbs Other hand, 4 is
conceded that the publisher Of . Newspaper
hss 10 rre<fsr righis OF privileges sbsn any
osbsr psrson and uua incur s rigid
responsibility. and be Who prostitutes hh
p.cuii.r power 70 wrongly n3ars. through
hs columns, from nsiioe. OF for pay, srJ one
a hirb Or Of iov oszrs-Jtmvors.y 70 hsndis