The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-08-02
COMMENTS on PuHLlC
MATTERS.

The New York Sun is out with scath.
ing article captioned Newspaper Comments
On Trials in Court. 1t appears that Nh.
MERRIcE, one of the counsel for the prose-
cution in the Star-route cases, moved the
court few days ago for an order TO show
cause why certain Washington journal, of
local circulation, should not be punished
for contempt. He did not press his order,
however, after the counsel for the defense
made fun OF him. The judge, WyLIE, also
seemed to look upon the. press with a
Jaundiced eye, remarkins that it appeared
impossible to have fair trial now.
adays in this country because of
the newspapers, Whereupon the Sun
observes that because that afternoon
journal, of purely local circulation
happened to say some things that porhaps
really overstepped the bourds of proper
comment, that is no reason why the entire
press shouldbe denounced. The Judge is
about as logical in his assertion as the HER
AID would be if it were to denounce the
whole judiciary because iorsooth one Judge
should do astray, or were to decry all mu.
nicipal government because its machinery
worked wretchedly in some particular
locality. 1t is the right and it is the duty
of the press of the country to freely express
itself and to admit into Its columns all
proper criticisms upon matters of public
concern and upon all officials that have
them in charge. When it shall be muzzled
it will be sad day for this
country and for the cause of lib
erty, justice and integrity everywhere,
When person puts himself up for Office
he should do so with the understanding,
mat his conduct throughout his candidacy
and career will be watched with the argus
eyes OF every one whose interest, directly or
indirectly, is to be affected throughits posi-
ton. And he should understand that his
critic has right to express himself as freely
as to the transpirings in it as he had to eS-
press himself, onlyin another form, at the
ballot-Sox, When he voted for or against
him, thereby expressing his view of his
qualifications or those of his predecessor.
An independent, out-spoken press handled
by pen of brains, who have the public vel
iare at heait as the New York Sun says,
ean convey, and often has conveyed, valua-
BILE and salutary lessons to those pub
lie officials, the judiciary included. Nor
are men who SIT on juries exempt
from these remarks. Our own acquain-
lance happens to embrace some of these
officials, municipal, state and Federal, who
forgetting that "the head of the table is
where DOUGLAS sits" assume the very j.
logical position that because they are in
vested with the functionary robest they care
better than those publicans" that under
take to criticise them. Clothe them with
the robes of Office and Immediately they
strut about or paw the ground as though
they were the great political or intellectual
"Jumbos 'ofthe day while other "poor NOR
tails must creep about TO find themselves
dishonorable graves" They are the self
satisfied, selEsuilicient giants of the
period before the immcnsity OF
whose genius the man who happens not to
hold.otfce, must be as, the weeping, hum
BILE, bowling willow is to the majestic oak
But the world grows and wisdom widens
The newspaper is abroad in the land, thu
breadth of its mission and its influence is
keeping pace with, if not leading, the van
guard of the thought and action of the
times. No truly upright, honest, intelli
gent, progressive man need fear its power
for it is hisprotector. But it is the foe to
those who, not in the possession of these vir
tues, are kept on the anxious seat and con
stantly toot the horn of carping captious