National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-11-13


EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,: In the first
article to the amendments of the constitution
of the United States It Is declared that Cin-
gtess shall make no law "abridgng the free
dom of speech, or of the press" and In the
ninth article IL Is declared that the cuumerl-
tlOn In the constitution of certain rights
hdInothe construct 70 dcny or dEsdrdJs others
While Il is recognized that the freedom OF
the press is one of the greatest bulwarks OF liD-
ctty in opposing public wrongs and oppres-
sion, and in the free discussion orpubic meas.
ures, 1t was never contemplated that the
freedom Of the press should extend to n vlO-
laiion of the great right conferred, by the con;
hallowed sanctity of the hearthstones OF DO
nestle life, or be construed to deny or dlgpatage
the, rights of the people by personal abuse
1t wus grand spectacle when the Pres-
dent, though never graduate of any college,
arose before an audience of the concentrated
| learning and brilliant scholarship of men OF
| letters of this country and England, and in
| pointing out the relations which should exist
between the President and the people, had the
courage and manhood TO Hlludc to one of tho
| greatest abuses of power exercised by Journal.
| lists OF certain newspapers" tending to de-
stroy the trust and confidence OF the people in
! their government.
The President said "1f am to speak of.the
| President Of the United States, desire 10
| mention rs the most pleasant and characterts-
| tic feature Of our system Of government, the
| other high officials. A close view afforded our
| citizens of the acts and conduct of those to
| whom they have intrusted their interests.
serves as regulation and check upon temp,a.
| tiCn md pressure in office, and Is q constant
| reminder that diligence and iuithiulness are
| the measures of public duty, and such u rela
| tiOn between the presld and people ought 70
| leave but little room In popular Judgment and
| conscience for unjust and false accusations and
for malicious ISLANDERS invented for the pur-
Tose OF undermining the peoples trust and
| confidence in the administration Of their gov
| eminent No public officer should desire to
check the utmost freedom Of criticism ns 70
| oil official acts but every matchmaking man
| must concede that the President of the United
States should not be put beyond the protection
which American love OF fail. play and aecency
accords to every American citizen. This trait
Of our national character would not encoir
| age, If their extent and tendency were fully
| appreciated the silly, mean, and cowardy
| lies that every day are found in the columns
of certain newspapers which violate every in.
| stinct Of American manliness, and in ghoullsh
glee. desecIate every sacred relation of private
| life"
It is evident that the motive and design of
the President was felt to be more of public
| duty and obligation imposed Hpon him, to
bring to the notice Of the people and youth of
our country the effect of the iniquty of "cer.
tain newspapers" on the public mind, more
| than from any private personal feeling.
II was the incuc1tion of noble lesson and
| moral hOmily, addressed not only to the
alumni and undergraduates of Harvard, but
| to the young men of America, which no course
| OF study, or bellcs-lottres scholarship, could
| have impressed with such force upon their
minds. For the President said: 1.-THE people
| OF the United States have one and all sacred
mission to perform, and your President not
| more surely than every other citizen who loves
his country must assume part Of the response
| bslity of the demonstration to the world Of the
| success Of popular government. No man can
| hide his talent under a napkin and escape the
condemnation which his sothfuness deserves
nor evade the stern sentence which his faith
| lessnCSs invites"
1t was the occasion which called forth the
rebuke and the precept, for which the Presi-
dent Is entitled to the highest applause and
gratitude Of the people and n fair-minded
press. 1t was appropriate, because IL was II
most remarkable audience. constituting the
educators of American youth tina. in their
manhood form public opinion. s. CIR.