The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-14
The Press PrOsfifuted.

wow. UNDER TIE GUIsE or NEWS, PRIVATE
SCANDALS ARE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TnuJGuTs SUGGESTED blythe LATE WASH
INCTOS TRAGEDY.
The following well-timed commentary
upon the Washington newspaper tragedy
from the correspondent Of the Baltimore
.>,W /, ably stated and worthy OF especial
attention. Ii reads wholesome chapter
10 the ncws-fcnds Of the day;
The unhappy rencontre at the Repubh-
can office on Thursday night has resulted
in one death. TO be followed ia all proba-
bility hy the consignment TO the penlten-
tlary Of another OF the three participants.
The affair has been discussed here with al
most a. much interest a. was the assassina-
tion Of the President, for In it is involved
question, and considerations which go home
10 almost every one in this community.
The de,nerate deed was very far from be-
inc insured alone by the recent occur
renee, and publications, which are assumed
10 have furnished the proyocation. IL was
the elimination OF animOsities and heart
burnings which have been at work for
wears, enccndered i'm the beginning, as eX-
emplifed In the sad ending, by the wanton
and unnecessary thrusting OF private Affairs
upon the public.
The victim Of the tragedy cannot fail to
receive the sympathy OF good men Tor inc
exposure Of scenes and incidents Win
which he was connected, and from which
The veil OF silence should never have been
lifted. and every one who values his OWL
reputation and the peace OF his own mouse
hold must appreciate the sense oil morlih'
c,tion and chagrin which possessed him
Rut. true a. this is, il is none the
L.. frue that he was simply receiy'
inc dose OF the same medicine
which he had ruthlessly and habitu
ally forced upon others. He was OF thai
elias, OF journalists TO whose CRITICISMS az
excepted. There are many men and man,
familie, i'm this city whose peace has beer
DESTROYED and whose lives have been made
miserable through the work OF this class
They with others hope that some good ma.
come oui of what has happened; that !
may have tendency to check the wide
.pread and deplorable habit OF panderinl
to the lower and baseT instincts OF the pub
lie lbs dragging TO light the private fault
and fraillics, the peccadilios, the weak
ncs,e. of men.
In the last ten years the custom Ina
grown % that there Is the most ac'N
rivalry and competition among the class i,
ierrcd 10 as 10 who shall dig deeper int
The mire Of personal scandal and gosslp'
and allegations Of the most serious ehara'
ter affecting the integrity OF men and IN
honor and virtue OF women, founded pei
han, upon no more than a breath, are seal
tered broadcast. Every little detail OF pr
waite life and movement is seized upon II
can only be tortured into enough spice !
wbet the demoralized taste of seanda
lovers. In the discussion OF public affair
unbridled license is given. and there Is
hesitation IN charging men with crimes an
felonie. on the most insufficient foundatio
or ur5n no foundation at all.
In Great Britain, where the proper an
legitimate freedom OF the press Is respec'e
fully a. much as In this country, the hea'
hand OF the law would iDterpose TO put
summary stop to such libels and defam
tions as are constantly published IN al
sent from this city. II IL true that Amer
can Journalism was rescued from the ]
into which Il Is falling. aud that large 20
ton ois..c pres which appreciates aaa ~