Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-01-04
Az INDEPENDENT PRESS THE
PEOPLES PROTECTION.

Somebody once said. perhaps II was
Plato. that .'the man who sueaks through
life. unwilling to express his genuine
sentiments through fear OF becoming
unpopular with the rabble, is beneath
the respect OF every intelligent individ'
nal. aud should be ostracissd by oil truly
intelligent persons"
II makes but little difference, how.
ever, to whom the world Is indebted for
the above quoted sentiment. 1t 10 so
good that ii might have been uttered last
north. or last year. and have been ap-
plicable to that time. And II Its author
had bad in mind some particular namby.
PANTY. trucking. fawping to power
newspaper OF modern times. instead OF
mar in Q general sense over two thou
sand years ago, he could not have given
voice to a more pertinent expression.
When one sees a newspaper whose in.
fiuential position has been made by the
bold. spirited and fearless writings OF
brave men in the past, who commended
through its columns for the right under
all circumstances. aud against oil odds
when one sees this newspaper become
30 conservative in its old age that 1t can
see public buildings carried away. or the
public treasury illegally depleted without
uitering q word by way Of protest, for
fear OF giving offense to some ambitious
political ~demagosue who dispenses a
little public patronage to 1t. one feels
that the sentiment quoted. although old
in years, is still fresh and fitting in its
application 10 things Of the present.
Perhaps there is no more unpleasant
task for q conscientious journalist to
perform than to direct public attention
to official misrule. II is so easy to float
with the tide. aud so much more agree
able to conceal wrong doinss than to eI-
pose them. that, unless prompted by a
sense Of duty, journalists are apt 10
maintain o cowardly silence when public
interests are in jeopardy. But II is q
duty which dsvolves upon all newspapers
that make any professions OF working
for the public good to spouse the side
OF the right aud the people against those
who would plunder them; and a news.
paper that for any reason whatever
maintains silence when its voice should
be heard exposing the wrong. and in dc.
Tending the right, Is o disgrace to the
journalistic profession, and q barrier to
the progress Of civilization. A sentinel
on duty who bsirsys his trust and aids
the enemy is hardly guilty Of a more
heinous crime than is the newspaper
that betrays the people for oiiicial
patronage. And it 10 to this class Of
journals that the people are indebted for
the recen, scardalous opinion Of Judge
Allen that u newspaper has the same
right to sell its editorial columns that o
merchant has to sell his wares.
Wherever the press Is bold and out
spoken in its denunciation OF official
misrule, whether in high or low stations,
there society has protection against nu.
merOus evils that would otherwise de-
moralizs aud corrupt Il. But for the
fearless attacks by q portion Of the New
York press upon Boss Tweed he would
have lived and died in the possession
and enjoyment OF his ill.gottsn wealth.
But for the bold and persistent warfare
Of the San Francisco Bulletin in 1856
upon the Caseys and the ballot-box stuff.
ers OF that city. San Francisco today
might have been under control OF tho
Iawless set who in 1856 had nearly
secured possession Of her government.
To an honest. bold and fearless press
the people must lock for protection
against all the evils attendant upon OH.
cial misrule; and ii is the duty Of all
who desire a good. economical govern
msnt. one which will afford safety and
protection to life and property. to up.
hold and encourage an Independent
press.