Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-29
Newspapers and Courts.

An application on the part of the prosecution In
the star route cases for rule OF the court reQulr
ing certain ScurrOuS writer's for the organs OF the
ring IN Washington to show cause why they should
not be punished for contempt gave occasion yes
terday for some very extraordinary statements in
the court regarding the course OF newspapers gen
orally Gen. TOtten is reported to have called at
entiOn TO ''ScandalOuS articles and reflections
upon the court itself, as well upon the defend
ants" which mad appeared from day to Cay in che
''great dailics" or New York. Judge Wylie is also
reported as saying that it 'Seemed Impossible to
have a fair trial in this country anyway because
OF the newspapers, 'and referring to a''concerte
attack upon the court" when the trial bega d.
These statements are extraordinary. because 1t
would be impossible tor the persons making them
great dailleS," or SO far as we have observed In
any respectable new spaper, which in the least de-
The offence OF the Washington organs OF the
star route ring Is palpable anu layraHt. iG is a
well-known ana unns niable fact that these two
so-called newspapers are controlled by Gen.
Brady. When they make abusive attacks upon
witnesses IN the case 1t Is for wall-ietned pur-
pose They wish to fntimidate men VINO have IN
formation damaging TO the accused persons from
giving their testimony. They have been engaged
in constant effort to influence the court and the
conduct. AS Mr.. Merrick remarked in the curious
colloquy which his motion brought forth, the
government has no newspapers On Its side.
the side 81 the pubic and have no are po On
sOe interest or purpose but to see justice done.
Their o1 on II they have committed any, has
features OF the case while it is in progress and
this raises question, somewhat vague and fll-de-
erty No one viii deny the impropffety Of : a a
effort or design On the part OF public journals
influence the action Of the court or to prejudice
the jury, but we have seen no evidence OF any such
effort or design In the columns OF any reputable
newspaper. We have seen none OF the ''scanda-
lous articles and reflections upon the court' to
which Gen Totten referred and we do not believe
ne can produce any from source that has any
q "a orpS nj he
discussing matters OF public interest and import
ance because they have become the subject or 1u-
aal Is # to
and point out their sgnifcance7 Is it a rehecton
upon the court TO reState the substance OF Its
rulings and endeavor to show their purport and
bearing upon the issues in the case7 Are the meth
ods and conduct OF counsel on either side sacred
from criticism? It is the business OF news.
estS and to endeavor to inculcate sound Views and
a healthy sentiment in regard to them. In the
| the utmost freedom the course of legislative
bodies, the conduct OF executive officers and the
attitude OF public men. Within the limits Of truth
and fairQeSS this Is not only proper, but it Is a
duty that cannot be neglected without detriment
to the republic. Is there any good reason why the
press OF The country should be silent regarding
| matter Of great public interest because for the
| time being 1T is in the hands of a court?
Judge Wyiie, II his remark is correctly reported
expressed the opinion that freedom OF the press
| this regard renders fair trial impossible. We
fail TO see why its influence upon trial OF this
hiHu Siiouu DC any more detrimental than upon
legislation or executive administration. The an
Gent theory stil prevails that Jures should know
nothing and think nothing about case that Is
tried before them, except what Is suggested to
their own minds by the evidence presented to
tnem- They are supposed to read nothing, e
she ua npd s srS SOLEMN a nnla
| Is stil kept up, and We have nothing to
| say against 1t, but we doubt very much whether
| II Juries were selected for their intelligence
and honesty and were to be accessible to ali the
light they could get, the interests OF Justice would
| suner. But newspaper comments are meant fOi
the public mind and not for the court or the Jury
unless they choose to avail themselves OF theii
| Denene Certainly, attacks upon tue court while
and efforts to prejudice or sway jury would be
Improper, but we do not see that fair and candid
discussion can do any harm. So far as it has
eject 1t must promote, and not hinder, fullness Of
CONSIDERATION. clearness OF Judgment and the es-
| courts and lawyers, as wen as the rest Of man.
KIND, WIN have 20 accept FREQ preos 10 having 9
the words q Judge Wy1fe, sssolne advantages