The Osceola times., 1883-03-17
when the Philosopher kept journalism


But il is to be presumed that in an un.
lucky moment the Fool found the sane
tum unoccupied. He summoned the
Familiar Its other name was Personal
Journalism, and every stroke that he
has since made TO kill the monster has
only served TO multiply it by doubles
by quadruples aud by octuples.
I In every mans life there is a domain
where newspapers should read this
legend-"No Admittance." This domain
is his private life, and should lie far be.
yond the prying eyes of newspaper
libelers and private slanderers. The
foibles and follies of the private citizen
are not legitimate food for newspapers
TO diet upon, and it is in this that jour
nalism should be held to the strictest ac-
countability-if not by judge and jury,
then certainly before the bar of public
opinion.
Before the day of American Journal
! ism, foreign countries had set up CEN
sorship of the press which has feeble
existence even in an enlightened nine
teenth century. The American news
paper, with the fullest freedom of speech
bestowed as an heritage by the builders
of the constitution, has too often abused
the sacred trust and set up n censorship
that has spared no sacred spot in the life
of the assailed, nor yet has turned q pity
ing eye upon the anguish of mother, wife
or child compelled to drain the bitter
cup Of the personal journalist, without
me ms of redress. g.
Upon our freedom of the press has
| grown up this great enormity, this un-
| slightly cancer whose poison is calumny
and rituperation. But be it understood,
here and now, that there are many hon
orable and virtuous exceptions to this
recognized rule of personal journalism.
To them all honor, praise and dignity.
To the vultures that prey upon the pri-
yate errors and misfortunes of the pub
lie, be infamy as black as the sable
wings of night, and judgments before a
Daniel who will weigh in the balance
every leaden tear and sigh and heart
ache, tor which personal journalism is
responsible.
Bad as is the sensational and nashy-
which finds its material in police courts,
The slumways and the dives of inlamy-
worse, far worse, beyond computation,
is this child of Esau, this prohigate Off
spring Of political journalism, this grave
yard reveler among dead mems bones,
that has stolen into the sanctum to be.
smear the bright escutcheon of Journal
ism. What is its license? 1t has none
From what principle of right does il de-
rive the privilege to pollute the temple
Of our profession? Ii has TO right
What public interest demands that orr
best public men should be painted as the
veriest scalwags? There can be but one
ansWcr-nonc.
Public men should be judged by their
records; but the political in journalism
has found it convenient to descend 70 the
lowest personal plain 20 magnify faults
into crimes and weaknesses into i'm
moralities-anything to prevent the lul-
fillment of a political ambition As can
didates for Office, politicians are open to
critisism. If a public man has failed in
amy duty, the newspaper should say us
much openly and without dissimula-
ton. III candidates political record is
bad, lei the fact be known the moment
no aspires TO office. Ifhe has committed
any act of public nature that is mani
festly against public policy, it is the
province Of the newspaper to deal with
him as he deserves, with a candor that
will attract attention and a dignity that
will command confidence. But the mo-
ment the public man drops back in
private life hc should have all immunity
from newspaper attacks.
In this state there is conspicuous ex-
ample Of personal journalism. The pub
lie is well aware OF 1T, and ii is certainly
not out of place here to allude to it.
You all know TO well how the hand of
this paper has been turned against the
best men in Nebraska. You, and you,
and you. have felt its sting And there
are those who feebly endeavor to initiate
it. Not only one, but many of you, re-
member with sorrow how a distinguished
citizen and politician of this state was
followed to his death by the calumnies
of this newspaper which emits its venom
three hundred and thirteen days out Of
the three hundred and sixty-fve. He
who had sat in the councils of the nation
only to honor himself and his constitu-
ency, and to be honored by his compeers
and friends, with noble heart and
sensitive soul passed gladly to that other
side to Join wife beloved, where only
there is escape from the deadly shaft of
the personal journalist. In the prime Of
manhood and usefnlnass, this man fell
beneath the wheels of this Juqgernaut of
personal journalism. Would you have
his name? Softly and with a benedic-
ton let it be said-Phineas w. Hitch
cock.
Since the close of the rebellion the
pathway Of journalism has been strew..
with the victims of this monster of most
hideous mien. Regulations blasted
firesides chilled with its icy breath, sui
eide to escape its Shiny touch, and homi-
cides to cap the climax of atrocities-this
is the Indictment. Not long since Wash
ington furnished its Soteldo, and more
recently st. Loais adds its Slayback to
the death ooll. Each of these cases was
the direct and natural result of personal
journalism. Is it not time to call halt :?
To place in durance vile this Delilah
that threatens to rob our Sampson of the
"talisman lock 2" This done, the press
is freed from its only dangerous vice
This done with the energy and enter
prise Of American journalism, profes-
sion which shall stand 'unawed by in
iluence and unbribed by gain" then
may every journalist uncover his head
and exclaim-"Thou god of our idolatory
the Press w
4 CLOSING WORD
to the brave journalists of Nebraska, the
pioneers who have endured toll and pri-
vation to establish in this grand new
- Al Il i.