Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-01

THERE is no doubt whatever that the
tendency of modern journalism is to treat
the "charge" as very nearly the equivalent
of conviction if the party Charged" with
wrong-doing does not proceed to prove his
innocence The New York Star says:
The rule that a man must be treated as inno-
cent until he is proved to be guilty should never
be lost sight Of The modern newspaper eppa-
rently conducts its investigations on exactly
the opposite theory, and this is used now as the
basis of the persecution of Mr.. Culver. The
Chicago people say 1--WE believe you to be
guilty; now prove your innocence ifyou can"
The Culver case is striking illustration
OF the injustice and cruelty of the tendency
referred to. Mr.. Culver stood out to the
last for the acquittal Of some OF the Cronin
defendants. That he was conscientious in
his Judgment, there ought to be no ques-
ton. The man has lived good and use
full life, and has had the respect of his
fellow-citizens. Because he thought as he
did as a juryman, the Chicago press has
bounded him with charges that are driv-
ing the man insane. How can he prove
that he was not bribed? Is it not more
Just to demand that the accusers establish
their charges?
The Culver case is but type of thou
sands of Others. The sensational press
and, we regret to say, not few of those
who claim higher rank-indulge in the
utterance of suspicious that blast charac-
ter almost as effectually as proof of crime.
Men by the thousands have been crushed
because they have been treated as guilty
on a mere charge, and were unable to
irove their innocence affirmatively, though
the proof in accusation was never exposed
to them. 1t is common complaint among
the people that the modern newspaper is
given to this sort of treatment of men and
women, and it is not at all unusual to hear
men say that, if one is charged in news
paper with an ofense, "he had about as well
be guilty." since the journals of the land,
in the majority of cases, do not accord him
the common charity of the law that holds
him innocent until proven guilty. 1t be
hooves the managers of the press to pause
and reflect if the allegation is not true
that the general public makes. Is not the
press given to great parade of the inaugu-
ration of charges against character, and in
difference to the publication of the estab.
lishment of innocence? Is it not given to
the treatment of accusation as the equiva-
lent of proof of guilt?
THE RECORD UNION agrees with the
San Francisco Alta that the petition to
Congress praying for law to prohibit the
organization of social, political or military
bodies that are inimical to the peace and
well being of the country is unwise. We
have repeatedly said that this Government
cannot afford to recognize political crimes
that the ordinary criminal laws must be
made sufficient to meet all otfenses; that
the right of the people to assemble and
criticise the Government must not be de-
MED or abridged; that vicious acts which
are not offenses under the criminal laws
should not receive Federal recognition
that to place it in the power of Federal
officials to determine what organizations
are inimical to the peace and well being
of the country will be to invest Federal
authority with power to work the destruc-
ton of our liberties. 1t will mean simply
and Enthusiastically the complete and auto
cratic domination of the whole country by
the political party in power, though 1T
may represent but a small minority Of the
people And these views we do not be-
lieye we will ever have reason to
change Such legislation as is asked for
brings in its train censorship of the press,
supervision of all assemblies of the people,
and complete emasculation of individual
freedom. If ever Congress enacts the law
the petitioners pray for, liberty may as
well hang her harp upon the willows and
bow her head in inconsolable sorrow.