Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-02-11
RESTRAINING THE PRESS.

RESTRAINING THE PRESS.
A Chicago lawyer of distinction pro
posed that a law be enacted requiring
editorial writers to append their sigma
lures to each article written for their
papers so that responsibility would attach
TO the writers alone. He thought this
would cause editors TO be more guarded
and tend to prevent comments that may
njuriously affect public men. In a
speech before the bar association Of New
York, Lawyer Dougherty suggests that
the press be restrained by law from com
menting upon cases pending or during
trial in court. He asserts that innocent
men have been sent to prison by the
"clamor'' of the newspaper. What a
jubilee the rogues would have if the
press could be muz2led.
Mr.. Dougherty could not cite a single
instance where innocent persons have
been imprisoned or otherwise punished
through the influence of the press upon
public opinion; nor can he show that
criminals have escaped legal punishment
by the favoritism Of newspapers.
They have lone much in the way of
exposing fraud. Doubtless many Of he
New York lawyers were aware of the
corruption and fraud practiced by Tweed
and his gang. Their robberies might
have been continued for years had not
The Times exposed them and called pub
lie attention to the plundering OF the tax
payers. 1t was the newspapers that
brought to light the bribery of the alder
men by Jake Sharp and saved the people
Of the city from having one of the most
gigantic frauds of the age saddled upon
them.
If the press is not honest it is not influ-
entail; if not just it wields no power.
Public sentiment s~ustains the press only
rs il uses it's influence for the right; and
the people soon learn to discriminate be
tween a newspaper that pursues the right
and one that does not.
The press needs no restraint except that
which is already imposed by law and pub
lie opinion. While it is not without
faults, an honest and independent news
paper, having no compromises to make
with wrong and devoted to the public
interest, is a bulwark of free
institutions not second to the courts.
The press, if fearless and truth-telling, is
a strong support to law and order. 1t
- - - I'm azz,;n,,a O., IN yoI,aIlo
service in u~pholding every just cause. 1t
was n powerful lever in helping to crush
out the lawless element in the great cities
and in furthering many municipal re.
forms. So long as republican institutions
endure a free, fearless and independent
press will be maintained. Those who
fear the newspaper will do something
~prejudicial to public interest are not to
be .rusted very far. Honest men have no
complaints to make against II on account
Of gross errors. 1t is the evil docrs-the
holders that think the press has too
much latitude in its comments.
Crime has always found the bar more
ready to defend it than the press. There
is no criminal so blackened by crime
that 4 lawyer cannot be found to defend
him for n fee. Even the bench. which is
popularity believed to be above the intlu-
cnces of both press and public opinion,
have been found unduly subservient to
wealthy corporations and criminals who
have wealth or influential friends. The
ends of justice have often
been defeated upon mere bubbles.
In the great cities Of the country and the
capitals of states and Of the nation, plum
dering syndicates have retained the ablest
lawyers Of the country TO make the worse
appegr the better side. There are many
lawyers of great talents who are the very
soul of honor. They would scorn to be
the instruments to subvert justice, but
when such men az Sharp can. through a
technicality, escape Imprisonment, there
something rotten in the administration
Of public law. Great criminal lawyers al
ways stand ready TO prevent legislation
that will make justice sure and swift.
The election and appointment of judges
are many times the result of bargainings
with politicians for political advantage.
Every self respecting journal will protest
against muzzling the press. There is as
much honor and dignity in the newspaper
profession as in the law. When q press
censorship is established. the people will
be exposed TO most grieysss wrongs with
ssa the means Of redrssa