The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-08
LET THE NEWSPAPERS MAKE THE
ISSUE


From the Ne1C Y ork Sun of this Morning.
This morning the Sun and every other
real newspaper in the State openly and
deliberately violate that section Of the
Electrical Execution law which forbids
the publication Of the details OF an execu-
tion--
No account Of the details of any such execu-
tion, beyond the statement of the fact that such
convict was. on the day in question, duly exc
cuted according to law at the prison, shall be
published 10 any newspaper. Any person who
shall violate or omit to comply with any
provision Of this section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor
This provision. intended by the cranks
who framed it to throw around the death
chamber and the death chair a mystery
like that surrounding a torture room OF
the middle ages, stands in the statutes as
a disgrace to the civilization of which we
are proud. 1t is against public policy. it
is impossible to enforce. and it is defied
and will continue to be defied by every
self-respecting newspaper In New York
on every such occasion as the execution
Of Kemmler at Auburn eleven months
ago, and the killing at Sing Sing yester-
day morning of Slocum, Wood, Smiler.
and the japanese Jugiro.
The law which vainly seeks TO restrain
the press Of New York In the perform
snce of a public duty of the first impor-
lance, itself defes a higher law, namely,
the Constitution of New York. In the
bill of rights which constitutes Article /.
Of the Constitution. and which catalogues
the most precious heritages Of a freedom
gained by blood. it is agreed and forever
decTsed that mo Jaw snail DE passed ID
restrain or abridge the liberty OF speech
or Of the press"
The free press knows its duty and its
power; and 30 long rs the unconstitu-
tlonal prohibition stands as part of the
Electrical Execution law, that part of the
Law will be disobeyed by the newspapers
Of New York, universally, deliberately
and rightly.
But the press of this State has another
duty to perform, even more impor-
tant than its periodical ~self-subjec-
ton to prosecution for a right
eous misdemeanor. Il must bring
about the repeal of this unconstitutional
provision. insulting to the very name OF
American liberty. To that cad it should
devote the utmost energies at the next
election. Without regard I o personal or
partisan considerations, it should support
for the Legislature and for responsible
executive posts only such candidates as
are distinctly committed against this pre-
posterous revival of medieval principles,
and pledged to help in sweeping the press
gag law from the statute book.
Until that is accomplished. a black stain
rests upon the fame of the New York
press. Is there any journalist in the
State, Republican or Democrat, who does
not account the priceless right of free ut
terance as far above any temporary issue
which partisanship can devise? For the
good name of our profession, we hope not.
The Sun is ready, for one, to Engage itself
TO support any Republican candidate who
shall promise to vote or work mex winter
for the repeal Of the foolish, and uncon-
titutional law which strikes at the liber-
tY OF the press, as against any Democrat
who shall refuse or omit to put himself
on record for free speech and a free press.