The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-23
rnE PRESS CENSORSHIP.

Jrdheial censorship of the press ha
never beeR popular in America, wher
newspapers feel that they have tn
right to say What they please. and ar,
generally pleased to say what thel
think. The liberty which all demand
for the press has too often extended t.
license; especially during a politica
campaign have party organs gone be
You'd the point of freedom of thu
press" ard decended to license of th'
most deprayed and reckless character
their columns teeming with persona
seurriiity and abuse which at othel
times the editors would be ashamed to
sanction. It is no uncommon thing al
sadh times to charge candidates for
sf6ee and party workers with
dishonesty, corruption and depravity
of various degrees, and the assailed in
siviAuaIs rarely pay any attention to
the charge especially if they are success
ful IN their political aspirations do they
igno7e the allegations of the opposition
press. knowing that everybody regards
the charge as meaning little or nothing
after campaign is over.
This freedom of the press has also
been taken advantage of to assail priv
ate citizens and officials beyond the
point of fairness, justice or decency;
and knowing how determined the peo-
pie are that their newspapers shall not
be 'throttled. !" but must be left free to
discuss men and measures as they
please, courts and individuals have
been 10th to attempt an in
ieIfEence with the press. 1t is a
euastion that will bear discussion
whether the courts are not acting wiser
in sifis policy of non-interference than
they would be were they to attempt a
censorship, for newspapers are chary
of their rights. and the press comes very
near to running this country" in all its
aepaTtments.of government; the press
is much more powerful than any court
can be, though the former assumes no
authority whatever, except the author
Sty Of directing and yoicing public senti-
lnent. that power which defines policies
controls government and makes and
suf0rees laws and rules which all must
heed
These words have been suggested by
the announcement that Associate JUS
ice Powers has signalized his elevation
to the bench, by directing his grand jury
10 feOk after the press. The Judge
doesn't put the matter in that way. but
his 6ASeet is PLAZA. It seems that the
egdeA Herald, few days ago, in COM
me.sing on the raid against Mormons
by TIE District Attorney and U. S. Com
missioner. said that circumstances go
to prove that Dickson and Mckay were
pooling their fees in unlawful cohabita-
ton eases" We know nothing of the
information possessed by our Ogden
namesake upon which it based its as
sertion. nor are We aware that the allie
gatieR, whether true or false, would |
show eTiminality on the part, either of
tie officers named or of the
Herald editor However, Judge Powers
seems 10 think that a crime has been
committed by somebody, pooling their
fees" being in his opinion criminal on
the part of Dickson and Mckay, or the
charging of them with doing SO being
an offense by the editor. The Judge
charged the Grand Jury to investigate
the officials, the inference being that if
they were not guilty the editor must be.
The latter has been subpenaed to ap-
pear before the nquisitors, and it is
talked that if he fail to establish the
truth OF his allegation he will be indicted
for Libel
OF the merits or dement's of this case
we know nothing. though it viii be in
teresting to note the outcome of the af-
fair. But it will be more interesting to |
watch the course of Judge Powers in |
respect to the press. If His Honor has
set oat to eliminate Islander and libel
from the local press, and to see that
only truthful assertions are made in the |
papers, he viii for time at least find |
occupation for himself and his grand /
juries. He viii read in q paper that
circulates to greater or less extent in
his district daily iibels on individuals
and officials; he will read in
that paper reflections on the
honesty and integrity. of jurors whose
Verdicts are not in, harmony with the
lucas of the editors and contributors; +
he viii read of the corruption of judges
whose decisions do not agree with the
views of the editors; he will read vii
lannon's attacks on the characters
of attorneys who defend clients
that are not in sympathy with the
policy Of the paper; should His Honor
himself manifest friendly disposition
towards community against which the
paper vas fighting hewould learn that
he bad been hribed and was the tool OF