The Washington critic., 1888-02-08
RIonTs OF ruE PRESS.


10 the bill now pending in the House
for excluding newspapers containing
lottery advertisements from the mails,
and declaring persons who mail such
papers guilty Of misdemeanor, we'll
says that "when such bill as this
consumes the time Of Congress it is
an evidence of the fact that there are
some men in Congress who should be
at home studying the principles on
which this Government is founded,
rather than occupying seats in which
they are entitled TO take part in
shaping national legislation"
1t does not believe that the measure
is constitutional. 1t establishes an
unjust censorship Of the press and
abridges its freedom. It.-disvegarfs
the right of trial by ilpy, and creates
"a myriad Of sautocrat deputies to
usurp. ,ifthey please, the jurisdiction
o6.he courts"
- Another strong point it makes is
this, that however obnoxious an insti-
tuition lottery may be in the estima-
tion Of some people, the press should
not be the medium through which TO
attack it.
We quite agree with our Georgia
contemporary that the proposed legis-
lation is unworthy of a great govern
ment, and that the people at large
whatever their opinion of lotteries
may be, will not patiently tolerate
such an autocratic and unwarrantable
encroachment upon the rights of the
press. Much as we believe in the
paternal power of the Government,
we cannot subscribe to the doctrine
that Congress has any more jurisdic-
lion over the legitimate advertising
business of newspaper than it has
over its editorial columns; and to in
-sanle the latter with any restrictive
ordinances would provoke a revolu-
tion.
If the Congress hos power to ster
into the Office of newspapor pub.
Usher and inform him that unless he
refuses to insert a certain advertise
ment in his paper, it will destroy his
circulation and ruin his business by
excluding his publications from the
mails; what outrage upon the citizen
may it not perpetrate wherever ii
has exclusive jurisdiction as in the
District of Columbia?
May not the Congress go further
than this, and by placing the express
companies of the country under the
supervisory regulation Of the Inter,
state Commerce law, prohibit them
from transacting the interstate bust
ness of lottery?
May it not go still further and re
woke the charter of National Bank
which receives the deposits of a lot
tery2
Why, in the name of common con,
sistency, are the newspapers of the
District of Columbia singled out il
this matter and made special objects
Of such cowardly legislation?
The CRITIC is governed by NJ
motive of self-interest in antagonizin,
this measure. 1t expects to live .
long time and to become as great ant
prosperous as any of its contempt
raries; nor does it depend for its sub
sistence upon an occasional advertise
ment from lottery or gift enter
prise or church rattle. There ar,
principles involved in this question o
vastly greater consequence, and no
10 be measured in dollars and cents
The principle of personal liberty, tn,
principle of unmolested privat,
rights, the principle of public decenc!
and of the dignity of the Govern
ment itself-that should not be com
promised or violated by the officiou
intermeddling of the law-makini
power.