The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-13
A Protest.
he Indianapolis Journah

To the Editor Of the Indlanapolis Journak
The editorial comments of your paper upon
current events at all times seem to reach the
pith and substance Of the matters treated, and
are so tempered with justice and moderation,
that have come to regard them as almost
oracular To-day, after reading Mrs Molloy's
defense Of herself. / turned with interest to the
editorial page, expecting to find some indorse-
ment of the many truths she SO forcibly ex
pressed, and was deeply disappointed to find no
mention of the article whatever. where so many
comments had been made when Grahams
various statements were given to the world.
Whether or not this woman is the guilty
creature Graham would have us believe do not
presume to say; but, knowing nothing of her
personally and being 10th to accept the state
ments OF known perjurer without further evil
dence, /, for one, am willing to believe her inno-
cent until proven otherwise. But when she says
"My case has been prejudiced before witness
on my side has been heard or q shred of rebut-
ting evidence given" she strikes q keynote of
truth which must awaken righteous indignation
in the breast of every lover of justice in the
land. The writer, personally, has no sym
PATTY whatever with women OF her class, who,
not content with the good modest domestic
life of Christian example and influence can ac-
eomplish, thrust themselves before the public,
and thereby make targets of themselves for the
arrows of criticism. Yet in this land of chiv-
airy, where every woman Is a queen, according
to an English writer, they should be left free to
pursue their chosen course without being forced
to yield up the treasure of their good name to
the first highwayman of the press that may de-
mand it, in the interests of sensation and
dimes
am aware that this cry against the publca-
tion OF indiscriminate news" retailed in many
cases by irresponsible parties, Is an old one
which has been answered time and again by ref
erence to the law of supply and demand, twin
ogres, which are, In this day of protest about
to be routed from their false position. 1 am
also aware that among the better classes of peo-
pie, papers retailing scandal for its own filthy
sake and dwelling with JUNCTION upon the details
of crime, are tabooed and as jealousy guarded
against in the family circle as the infection of
smallpox or the contact of leprosy 1t is
not to such that | refer, but to respectable
papers, when in fulfilling their legitimate
function as newsgatherers. they depart from the
line of their duty and forgetting the first prin-
ciples of justice, publish without reserve details
of events which, beyond a mere passing men
ton, need never be referred to at all. The free
dom with which the American press deals with
the most sacred feelings and interests of private
citizens is b matter of astonished remark by
every foreigner who comes among u.s. There is
absolutely escape from this surveillance In
the case OF known criminals, it is perhaps just
punishment; but, before they are proven guilty,
it is violation of every principle of fairness
and justice, and when the victims are innocent,
1t is an outrage by the side of which murder be-
comes blessing.
In the case of Mrs. Molov it may be claimed
as lecturer she became public character and
as an alleged criminal, she was not entitled to
consideration; but no such claim can bs made
for Miss Palm. of Detroit, and Miss Rose Voor-
hees, who have lately been subject to so much
annoyance. We read with burning indignation
of the Russian police searching houses ndis-
criminately, and subjecting the occupants to
every indignity in their search for Nihilistic lit
erature, but the reporters of America are not one
step behind them in their mad search for news. I"
When the press, with infinitely greater oppor-
tunity for evil, descends to the level of the
village gossip who drops in each morning, and
with mysterious wipks and numerous they
says" blasts the reputation of her neighbors. or
holds up to comment and ridicule their most
sacred affairs. it is time to call halt.
INDIANAPOLIS, May IL. 1883