The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-29
THE PRESS AND BAR.
HOW A GREAT ATTORNEY VIEWS
THEIR RECIPROCAL RELATIONS.
Daniel Dousherty's Address Before
the New York State Bar Associa-
tion-.The Press Swaps the People OF
{ AL Lands.

he q leading aim, how will fare the virtu-
Gus poor contcndiDg for rights, il may be
against the ruthless rich. Trusts, combi-
nations are forming in all lincs of business.
Ii the bar yield 10 this latent craze for gold,
individual character will be lost in cor
poS,e enterprise and the light cscutchcon
give place TO the flaming signboard. De-
grade the bar To business, and ut least
some OF i,s members will sink to the low
est depth.
shall the newspapers invade the sanctity
OF courts Of justice, assail litigants, intimi-
date witnesses and dictate the yerdicts Of
jurics and the judgments OF the courts?
Shall they, when they deem II necessary
TO suit their fancy or increase their circu-
lation, pour into q community their opin-
ion Of eases about 20 bo tried in courts Of
justice
Oi all earthly Instruments the press is
today the most powerful for good or evil
II dictates policy Ia statesmen and sover-
cigns II sways the people Of all lands.
The tyrant drcads liz ihundC1bolt IL is
the censor Of all the mighty acts played on
the great stages II the earth. II arriigns
gigantic wrong ut the lar Of civilization.
IT, blows will batter down dynasty Its
yoirc will rouse q revolution. II is the
lever that works the world.
Yet NAV not the very power Of the press
strike the thoughtful mini with apprrhen-
som In the coming on of time may not
this more than giant, intrcnchcd in the
affections Of the people, flushed with CON
quest, conscious 81 its power TO lit 10
prominence or hurl to Obscurty-may IL
not strotch liberty 10 hccnse7 In the storms
OF passion that nov and then sweep over a
people may not the press crying out for
the public good, grow into dcspotic dem
agog,lc more uniceling than tyrant-a
despot whom time cannot eniceble nor
malady impair, whom steel cannot strike
nor bullet kill, intangible yet omnipolcnt,
invisible yet uuiycnalY
Are there not now publications that out.
ra,rc dcccncy and defy the law; pretending
10 lc the conservatives Of morals spread
the details u iihhy vice, that spare neither
aRc, sex nor condition. that invade the
strictly Of homes, tear out the secrets uf
the hearth aud heart and blaze them inr
and wide, that nm unioclng world may
glOat ON tho surrows and misioriuncs of
poor humanity, that bunst the ceremonis
OF the tomb and harrow the living by II.
bells on the dcad3
hut there are deeper wrongs from n far
higher source. The great Journals Of die.
icrcni cities are breaking down the bar.
riru, Of ihcpasi and assuming authority 20
comment on, rriticisc, condemn or approve
OF proceedings pending in our courts Of
justice. They pour into every home their
opinion oi ma Undetermined cause. They
condemn the accused before the evidence
is hcanl, name tho amount the verdict
ought 10 be-, the day the Jury will decide.
Judges, comprchcnding the dircful results.
rrsist within the limits oi the law this out.
rageous interference. Yet tits to be- iearcd
that now and then thprc may be- those elc.
vaicd 10 the hcuch by hvonusm, devoid
OF experience tasting for the first time the
sweets ui popular applause, who, caught
10y the hrccr, viii float with the current
and convict aud sentence prisoners To
please the pr,ss.
Aye coming 10 the iront have We not
seen Ia the YEAR Just past the majority Of
journals III the metropolis all praise 10
the exceptions leaders at thought In
America, Teachers Of the people. creation.
OF public opinion newspaper, controlled
and edited by gentlemen Of learning wis.
don aud probity, identified with the high.
csl interests newspapers whose combined
circulation amount to million. in abhor.
renvc OF abuses In the municipality, In
their determination TO uproot long exist.
ing corruption have W. not seen them 90
away bcyond the range 81 Legitimate dis.
cus'ion and inilict the first great blow ever
struck in America at the pure adminislr,.
ton 81 iustiCc7
Ihnsc incc~ant assaults are too recent
10 require rpeating Thcyarc buried into
tie brain 81 every lawyer. nay after day
these Journals pound tho poison of de-.
nunciaiion upon men about 10 be- tried for
felony until the yicinapr was ono ynst
caldruu Of prejudice. Week after week
msn ol character callcl 10 court sworn that
iroin reading these pap.rs they wcrr un.
fitted 10 H. Jurors, and wcrc accordingly
excused. n,iUugh the hong struggle OF "A
month and more IN sccurv twelve impartial
jurors thcsc attacks we're rad hy the SUN.
moncd citizens II citizen through To-
nomncc OF vuu-c CHANGED 10 Hay u v,unl In
Lsy0r Of defendant 10 any one summoned
~ juror, the prce, amazed nj the vii.
lginy, dcmandcdth that nm example should bc
made II the offender. Yet the prvs with
magmiIccni audaciiy, tainted the ontirr
panel every day.
some oi the Jurors finally selected stated
that they to1k their scats prrindic,d
asain,, the man they VEN alout Ia ,r,
During ia, trial the ind,, WIS rrti,i'ci
Al mo-, deuouneod. N 6c na,lc an ora, ~,
ruling which the prc,., onnoscJ pc,b,u.
in the next issne he was stylcd n ,i,l,"n,,s
india. n he r,l"I ,s ,L.y ,i.hai ~,
s,nr ol the ttials Inc nan,,. ~ h,rr,, -
published a. suspcct,J I'm ~ h., ~
most famous ca,.e line Jury rendered. a $50