The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-31
SERVICE OF THE PUBLIC PRESS
To Human Rights and the Best Interests OF
the People.

day, at the press congress at Chicago,
was one by William Henry Smith upon
"the public press as the advocate of hu-
man rights and the champion of the
interests of the common people''-thus
was the question framed, but when he
came to apply the question to our own
time he dropped the adjective "com-
mon," as implying an antagonism, or
at least a separation of classes not
known to US.
Mr.. Smiths historical survey of the
constantly growing service Of the press
in this cause ever since there began to
be such an institution-that is, at the
very time that the Puritans left En-.
gland and Holland forAmerican shores,
early in the 18th century-was full Of
interest. Not without struggle and
hardship was the present liberty Of the
press gained in England or this coun-
try.
What the great advocate Erskins
said, when the prosecution of the press
was at its worst in England, and Leigh
Hunt was imprisoned for criticising the
discipline of the army, was we'll quoted:
"Other liberties are held under gov
ernments, but the liberty of opinion
keeps governments themselves in sub
lection to their duties. This has pro-
duced the martyrdom of truth in every
age; and the world has only been
purged from ignorance with the inuo-
cent blood of those who have enlight-
ened it,"
MI. Smith give survey of William
Cobbett's odd career as journalist in
this country and England; it proved q
vivid illustration of the effectiveness of
what Mr.. Smith calls "plangent state
ment," and the force of the mere i'm
pulse of opposition. "In America he
extolled the virtues of monarchy; in
England he laughed at the whole sys'
tenn of government. He is always
says Hazlitt, of the militant, not of the
triumphant party So far he bears
gallant show of magnanimity, but his
gallantry is hardly of the right stamp.
He wants principle; for though he is
rot servile or mercenary, he is the vic
tim of self-will. He must pull down
aud pull in pieces. He changes his
opinions as he does his friends, and
much on the same account. He has
no comfort in fixed principles; as soon
as anything is settled in his own mind,
he quarrels with it. We have had a
good many imitators Of Cobbett in the
United States, whose hearts have been
as devoid of principle as a pauper's
grave of verdure; and yet, like Cobbett,
their work has advanced the cause of
humanity without that being the mo-
tive"
Mr.. Smith illustrated the services Of
the public press in America, and how,
finally, after many editors and pub
fishers had suffered from a contrary
decision, it became establishedin in nearly
every State by constitutional or statu-
tory provision that the truth may be
given in evidence, and is an absolute
defense to a criminal prosecution un-
less the publication be malicious.
In establishing its own right to exist,
MI. Smith said, the press was fighting
the battle of the people. In 1919, he OBJ
served, when misgovernment had re-
duced the masses of the population of
England to state of degradation and
of want almost inconceivable at the
present day; when it was very doubt
full whether the press would win VIC
tory or be crushed under the foot of
tyranny; and when the stamp act was
under consideration, Lord Ellenbor-
ough said: If he was asked whether he
would deprive the lower classes Of So
ciety of all political information, be
would say that he saw no possible good
to be derived to the country from hav-
ing statesmen at the loom and politi-
clans at the spinning jenny. This is
not the sentiment of the England OF
to-day, thanks to the press and more
enlightened craftsmanship. It has pot
been the sentiment in America since
the republic was christened. We have
honored statesmen who have gradu-
ated from the shoemaker's bench, the
printers case, the blacksmith's forge
and the farm, and no man enters into
full citizenship until he is politician.
The foundation of our republic is edu-
cation, an enlightened people. Study
the exhibit of the "White city," where
nations contend in friendly rivalry.
Whose the brain that conceived it all?
Whose the hand that fashioned the
marble, reproduced life upon canvass,
created the marvellous machinery,
wove the beautiful fabrics, produced
the printed sheets, and brought under
control the subtle forces Of nature?
Whose but the brain and the hand OF
the citizen of the republic universal
called sculptor, artist, craftsman and
scientist? And as We givethe greeting,
all hail! let US not forget what has
been endured and sacrificed to make
this possible. Let US not overlook the
higher meaning of this history. Of
little worth where the experience ifit
witnessed merely an increase in wealth
and the privilege of its enjoyment un-
molested.
There is a profounder significance
relating to the spiritual endowment of
man. Looking back over the past we
see that each step taken toward larger
liberty carried with it an increased re-
sponsibility-an increased responsible
ity for what? Clearly, for the promo