Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-13

Naturally the journalists OF Baltimore are some
what excited over the attempt OF the grand jury
and judge OF one OF the courts OF thai city TO
make reporter of the s.a disclose the sources OF
his Information touching certain proceedings OF
the grand 1ury, in regard to which he had made
publication. He has been summoned before that
body, and questioned in regard to the matter, but
he properly refused To give the Information de-
sired, whereupon he was taken before the court
Here he again declined to give the authority for
the statements be had published, although he adj
mitted having written them, with the purpose
only OF giving the truth concerning matter In
which the public was interested. The Judge has
taken the matter under adviseMent, and viii in o
few days render his decision.
II Is 10 be hoped the reporter viii maintain to
the end the stand he has taken. The court may
punish him, but public opinion will sustain him.
Journalism Is as honorable and responsible pro-
iessicn as law or medicine, and there Is no more
reason for compelling one OF its members TO dis
close the sources OF information than there Is In
making lawyer reveal the secrets eonflded To
him by client. or requiring doctor to betray
The confidence repoSed In him by patient. III
mistake has been made by him or those In his en-
ploy 10 person Is quicker to correct it than the
conductor OF reputable journal, and II damage
has been done BIZ any publication 1t has made he
is amenable to the law for the consequences as
other people are for harm resulting from their
acts; but 10 undertake 10 compel revelation as
70 the sources of his Information through the
agency Of court Is a tyranGicai assumption OF
authority unworthy the present enlightened age.
The attention OF all persons interested In the
preservation OF The family ana the home ia direct
20 the address OF the Rev. Samuel ". Dixie secre-
tary OF the National Divorce Reform League to be
delivered In this city this evening. The subject is
worthy OF the most earnest consideration by good
citizens. Statistics show that divorce IL growing
continually more and more frequent in the United
States partly the effect ard partly the cause OF an
Increasing immortality. The evil Is one which can
hot be met by mere sweeping denunciation. II
has got 70 be handled carefully The people must
be educated up TO a higher moral plane,
and legislation must be devised which
shall be effective and not merely snowy
Every year that the popular notion of
the sanctity OF the marriage tie remains slack the
world slides further backward and downward, for
there Is no such thing a standstill in morality
The purpose OF the league is 10 study the whole
subject scientifically and disseminate the knowl-
edge gained by addresses to the people, articles in
the newspapers and magazines, and so forth
Money is, OF course, prerequisite TO successfl.
work Of this sort, and the leagues treasury has
never been full enough To enable 1t to do all iJ
would like 70. Public interest is waking up,
however, and the friends of the reform are pushing
It in various parts OF the country simultaneously
Mr.. Dfkeas address this evening viii show the
present status OF the movement and indicate the
course To be pursued in the future.