The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-03


teit the usual fee Jo,. issuing The order.
No Gag-I.aw Governor or Legislature
Next Year!
or the distinguished gentlemen whose
views on tho Electrical Execution law are
published on nnother page tho Hon. Ros.
WE'LL P. FLOWER tho Hon. EDWARD T.
JONES, Judge ALTON b. PARKER, the Hon.
WILLIAM F. SHEruAN. DR.. CHAUSCEY NJ.
DEPKw, the Hon. CORNELIUS VAN Corr, tho
Hon. STEWART J.. WooDroRD, and Secre-
their declaration for repeal OF the section
restricting the liberty OF the press. Hero
are four Democrats and four Republicans.
They are all all right.
Mayor CHAPLIN OF Brooklyn, In a more
cautiously worded reply. expresses the
opinion that the law prohibiting the publ
cation OF details will be perslstenhy aud
successfully dried and Is. therefore, no law
at ALL" We assume that Mayor CHAPLIN is
for the repeal Of n law which no character
lies as unnecessary and anomalous. The
Hon. w. II. ROBERTSON OF Westchoster, that
veteran observer OF the drift Of public
opinion, likewise believes that the repeal OF
the section is only question OF time.
Collector FAssETr apparently favors the
repeal OF the gag section. not on the ground
that 1t Is odious, or unconstitutional, or I'M
desirable. but because he thinks 1t can never
be enforced.
Mr.. FREDERICK A. SCHROEDER Of Brook
lyn, the Hon. ANDREW d. WHITE and Com
modore STAR1N decline for one reason or
another to put themselves on record. Mr..
BoHRoKDEB has not given the subject
thought enough to arrive at any definite
opinion. Mr.. SrARIy has not given the SUBJ
ject any thought at all. and Mr.. WHITE, II
DO has pondered the question, does not
regard the public as entitled to share his
knowledge Of his conclusions.
These interesting interviews on an issue
ofsupreme importance not only to the news
papers Of New York. but also to every cti-
zen who prizes tho inestimably precious
right Of FREQ speech, are respectfully re-
ierred by The Sun to its brethren Of the
press and to the general public.
We earnestly urge our esteemed contem-
poraries throughout the State to subject
every candidate for executive or legislative
q %aI 81 kh> <sak h>u
u he in favor Of tho gag law which
now disgraces the statutes, or Is he for its
Immediate and unconditional repeal2 Let
no candidate for any office Of importance.
for Governor. for Lieutenant Governor, for
Senator. or for Assemblyman, 60 before his
party asking for its nomination, or 60 before
tho citizens asking for their votes on cleo
ton day. until his position with respect to
tho repeal Of the law has been definitely
ascertained and put upon record in form
% distinct as to leave not the slightest doubt
- to what he will do II he gets into Office.
Then let the press Of New York move as
unit In defence Of its priceless freedom, in
vindioation Of Its glorious traditions. and In
proof Of its Unreasonable power.
This Is the issue Of 1891. 80 far % tho
newspapers of the Empire State are con-
csrned. In comparison with the valuo of
the principle 80 lightly and ignorantly as
sailed by the cranks who framed the Elec.
tricsl Execution bill and the legislators who
heedlessly assisted In enacting 1t, every
question Of psrtisanship or OF per.
sonsl preference becomes insignificant.
It appears that 1t Is high time that
certain politicians in both OF tho great par
tics and certain volunteer reformers OF 30
ciety should be taught that against the right
eous protest Of the united newspaper press
no law can stand; that NO public servant can
persist In attacking tho constitutional liber-
ty of tho press and continue his public ca
reer; that no candidate for Office can uphold
. violation Of the right OF free speech. or
profess indifference in regard to such an
attempt at restriction, and flourish
subsequently anywhere except In pri-
vate life. There never was q time
when 1t was more plainly the duty OF the
newspapers OF New York to put into the
background every consideration Of tempo
rary politics, and to assert with one voice the
primal right Of FREQ utterance.
For any off1oe from Governor down. The
suN Is prepared to support the man who
comes out sauarely for free speech and an
unshackled newspaper press, as against the
man who believes In the gag law or who re-
CARDS the question as of small Importance.
This applies to candidates for any execu-
tive or judicial post. for tho Senate and
for the Assembly. II the gag-law candidate
calls himself Democrat and the candidate
who L. for the repeal Of the gag law is
Republican. Q Prohibitionlst, Labor man.
or q Socialist We are for the Republican. the