The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-02-03
ellancnus.
THE PRESS OR THE LAW.


dress before the New York State Bar Associ
alton spoke as follows with reference to tn
relation Of the press to the administration
of justice:
Pride, affection aud admiration for tn,
press are Unborn in the American-grov
with his growth. A jealous regard for its lib
crty is inherent in our people; its liberty il
now and will be for ever preserved by a bat
tlement more imptegnabie than luw-th,
| Constitution itself.
1t is our love for it-our cherished hope
that ii may be ever faithful to its exalted mis-
sion that bids me speak That its freedom
will ever be infrngcd is an impossiblity. Lik,
the blood of Douglas it can defend itself
| OF all earthly establishments the press is to
day the most powerful for good or evil. II
dictates policy to statesmen and sOyeregns
| 1t sways the people of all lands. The tyrant
breads its thunderbolt. 1t is the censor o.
all the mighty acts played on the great stages
OF the earth. Its watchful eye scans Christ
endom. 1t arraigns gigantic wrong at the
bar of civllzltion. lis blows will batter down
n dynasty. Its voice will rouse revolution
1t is the lever that works the world
Here in our free land it nourishes in resist.
less vigor. Its growth and developments are
stupendous. We are startled each day with
its wonders. Each morning it tells all that
has happaned from the Orient to the droop.
ing West" 1t is the voice of industry-the
generous patron that draws from privacy
talent, genius and worth to win their way to
fortune and renown. 1t seeks out gigantic
abuses and holds up to execraton the wrong
doer and corruptionist. 1t is the rescuer OF
oppressed humanity and the champion OF
prosecuted truth.
II 10 tlp riUht ,,f ,,nlitinul Al
sceplcss sentinel Of the peoples rights; it is
the tocsin at whose sound millions will rise
by magic to defend the Republic and over
whelm its foes
Yet may not the very power Of the press
strike the thoughtful mind with apprchen-
sion In the coming of time may not this more
than giant, intrenched in the affections of
the people-tlushedw with conquest-conscious
OF its power TO lift to prominence or hurl to
0bscurity-may it not stretch liberty to
license? In the storms of passion that now
and then sweep over people may not the
press, crying out for the public good grow
into despotic demagogue, more unfeeling
than tyrant, q despot whom time cannot
enfeeble nor malady impuir, whom steel can
not strike nor bullet kill? Intangible vet
nipotent-invisible yet universal
Are there not now publications that out
rage decency and delay the law?-pretcnd
ing 10 be the conservatives of morals, spread
the details of filthy vice? That spare neither
age, sex nor condition? That invade the
sanctty of homes, tear out the secrets of the
hearth and heart, and blaze them far and
wide that an unfeelng world may gloat at
the sorrows and misfortunes of poor human
ity? That burst the cerements Of the tomb and
harrow the living by libels on the dead g?
There are deeper wrongs from a far higher
source. The great journals of different cities
are breaking down the barriers of the past
and assuming authority to comment on, criti-
else, condemn or approve of proceedings
pending in our courts of justice. They pour
into every home their opinion of an undeter-
mined cause. They condemn the accused be-
fore the evidence is heard name the amount
the verdict ought to be the day the jury will
decide. Judges, comprehending the direful
results, resist within the limits of the law this
outrageous interference Yet it is to be fear
ed that now and then there may be those ele-
waited to the bench by favoritism, devoid of
popular applause, who caught by the breeze,
will float with the current, try the case, and
sentence prisoners to please the press.
Aye, coming to the front, have we not
seen in the year just past the majority of
journals ofthe metropolis-all praise to the
exceptions-leaders of thought in America,
teachers of the people, creators of public
opinion, newspapers controlled and edited by
gentlemen of learning, wisdom and probity,
identified with the highest interests, news
papers whose combined circulation amounts
tn II million, in adherence of abuses in the
municipality, in their determination to up
root long existing comprehensive we not
seen them go away beyond the range of legi-
innate discussion and infllct the greatest blow
ever struck in America at the pure admins
tration Of justice?
These incessant assaults are too recent to re-
qure repeating. They are burned into the
brain of every lawyer. Day after day these
journals poured the poison of denunciation
upon men about to be tried for felony until
the "vicinage" was one vast cauldron of pre-
judice. Week after week men of character
called to court swore that from reading these
papers they were untitled to be Jurors, and
were accordingly excused. Through the
long struggle of month and more
to secure twelve impartial jurors these
attacks were read by the summoned citizens
If citizen through ignorance, or worse,
CHANGED TO say a word in favor of defendant
to any one summoned as juror, the press,
amazed at the Villainy, demanded an exam
PIE should be forthwith made of the offender,
yet the press with magnificent auducity faint
ed the entire panel every day.
Some of the jurors finally selected stated
they took their seats prejudiced against the
man they were about TO try During the
trial the Judge was criticised, If not denounc-
ed, if he made an order or ruling which the
press opposed. Perhaps in the next issue he
was styled righteous Judge if he ruled as
they wished In some of the trials the names
of jurors were published as suspected In the
last and most famous case the jury rendered
a verdict of guilty in thirteen minutes. The
next day, at least one of the journals dicta,-
ed that the sentence should be ten years, and
chucked that the verdict of the jury was the
work and triumph of the press. Aye, when
n Judge whose name deserves to be printed
in letters of gold and kept bright forever, in
despite of the stories that he knew would
be heaped upon him, for good and weighty
reasons, the case being one of first impressions,
the first of the kind tried under the State
Constitution, the first alleged briber ever in.
dictcd, granted the stay, some of the journals
assailed his purity, ransacked his career, in
sinuating, if they did not brand him, as a
bride taker. The hurricane still ragged, its
blasts spared not even the venerable Chief
Judge.
The Court of Appeals "calm as the lake that
slumbcrs in the Storm" patiently heard ella
borate argument, carefully examined cited