The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-07
LIBERTY AND FREEDOM
OF TIE PRESS,

be held to account beyond the chamber ioi
words used in debate, is a wise one. IL is
Of parity with the exemption of mem
Der from arrest, and on the same principle
that he shall not have his salary subject to
an o1se.ting process. The purpose of these
privileges is to secure to the people
represented the largest amount OF fearless
and unhampered efficiency of service in the
interest Of justice and the general veal.
Without any elaboration here the reason
ing mind ut once comprehends the I'M
mense value of the rule and the practice.
On the other hand. that other representa-
tive of the people, limitless as to political
divisoa or sectional area, the press, has had
sanctiiied and secured to it with jealous
care by the organic law of the nation, and
the states as well, an explicit barrier against
the abridgment of Its freedom OF utterance.
Every year the liberty extended to news
paper publications increases. Many things
some time since regarded as improper, in
discreet, and treated by the public author
tiles as oiienses against good order aud pun
/
rs important to the just and harmonious
working of free institutions. There is in
this day no need of editors making revcla-
tons OF realities disguised under the garb
ola fiction about matters as though trans
piriDg in foreign country, as was necessi-
lated not very long ago. Publicity Of al
deliberations Of public assemblies is at once
invited by the laws Of all the states as well
as directly demanded by the sovereigns Of
a republic, Indeed the restrictions now
| imposed are such only as to protect the citi-
zen in his good standing, reputation and
his pecunlary interests, against tho
shafts of pure malice and
calumny, as also against degeneracy Of
the public morals. Honest officials need
not fear this growing feature, for as an hon
est government should pride itself upon
the reflection that the moro deeply its sys-
tenn is examined, the better IL will appear,
so faithful representative in any capacity
should consider that fair criticism OF his
actions, character and motives will develop
|
mental truths of the enlightenment of the
age. Both, representative and Jour.
nalist, are therefore equipped with
extraordinary prerogatives, and there
fore let it BIO conceded that on each
rests u corresponding responsibility 80 to
use the power that II will best subserve the
| best interests of the social organism, which,
after all, is the real object of care and to
which the political machinery IS merely the
operating means. Applying these plain
rules to case which has recently occurred
at the caDital, and now Of more than state
wide notoriety, between COLONEL CARD.
WELL editor of the Austin Statesman, and
JUDGE CnENowETH the member from Fan
min county, we can but conclude that the
latter has much the worse of
the argument in the conflict that cnsued
between them, and having its origin in the
penitentiary lease question. Day by day
the Statesman issued surcharged with bit
ter words in hostility to the Lease, and even
made some charges and limitations that
II,
But did it 80 beyond the sphere of the law
which accorded like privilege to legislative
membership, at least, so far us JUDGE
| ClEEowEriI was concerned? We nppre-
bend not, Tor not I'M single instance did
the editor traduce that gentleman as indi-
vidual or representative. Never once did
he impugn his character or his motives
On the other hand JUDGE CuENowEru.
while discussing the same question upon
the floor Of the house, did cha rye CARD.
WE'LL with corruption, and, naming him,
| then and there asserted that "his editorial
pen had on previous occasions been bought,
and that he was now living upon those i'll
gotten gains" This was a side issue and
an uDjustitiable injection into his speech.
The editor of this paper was personally
present on the occasion of the eloquent
members invective, and it impressed him
then as having been uttered in the white
heat of the moment when II
naturally impetuous mind was
seething with passion, begotten In the
belief that the cause he was espousing had
been most wrongiully villiiied, and with its
advocates reflected on in manner that
implied bribery in n business involving
hundreds of thousands of dollars to the
state. Assuming the truth of the charges
then made against CARpwELL, II direct
reference to them on the floor of the house
was the purely gratuitous attack of an over.
sensitive and seli-constituted champion
ship. The merits OF the bill in hand under
the special order, were alone the subject of
legitimate discussion there. Had he been
personally misrepresented by CARpwgLL's
columns, CnENowErH might have risen and
spoken TO a question of privilege. That
the editorial pen had written much that
was Incorporate, improper and unfair, is
no plea in justification. The upshot of the
whole affair is most unpleasant attitude
by the very censurablo course of the Jour.
nalist in many respects on the luckless sub
ject, and the equally culpable course OF the
representative, through failure to observe
the proper bounds which ought TO limit
the expressions and conduct OF both.
JUDGE CnENowEru Is one Of the ablest leris,
lators in tho state, and the record OF his life,
military and civil, is alike honorable to
himself, to his constituency, and to the
state. COLONEL CARpwELL also possesses the
enviable esteem of all who know him. and
the difficulty which beclouds them is to be
regretted by all those who recognize merit,
aud value harmonious feelings between
worthy citizens and public characters. But
u lesson has been thus taught to
tho press, and to legislative and
other public officials. Personalsm by
each is to be carefully avoided and
whilst the widest latitude consistent with
truthful treatment must DO permitted in
criticisms, yet direct charges or intimatons
Of fraud. bribery, corruption, etc.. should
DO made only In the proper time and place.