The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-28
THE AMERICAN PRESS.


The press VITA Americans is mighty
and influential engine. 1t wie.ds a power
unequa.ed, and consequently incurs a
responsibility that can neither be lightly
assumed or shaken off. For its own dig
nifty and reputation such newspapers as
prostitute its use TO base Or selfish ends
should be put down and discountenanced,
both by the reading public and the great
mass Of publishers who have higher
motives In view. and who appreciate the
Importance OF their high and thoroughly
useful and commeDdable position in hui
man affairs.
The extreme liberty accorded the
periodical press of the United States Is
always remarked by writer's Of other
countries when depicting American in
stitutIons and customs from their own
standpoint, and Is frequently assailed
with no little violence by such as do
rot properly understand its workings and
methods.
OF speech and action, so long as they do
not conflict with the rights OF others,
are as free as the air we breathe. A
censorship of the press would be lmpos-
sib.e, and In fiat contradiction to the
very principles on which the government
Is founded. To attempt any abridgement
Of this liberty would be an experiment
fraught with danger, that could not but
result disastrousiy.
THE Newspaper Maker" following this
line OF thought, recently said:
I'm certain foreign countries every In,
diyldual agent Of the government may
violate the laws with impunity since the
constitution does not give to those who
are injured right to complain before
the courts of Justice. In such cases, the
liberty OF the press is the only guaran-
tee OF the liberty and assurance that the
citizens possess; and while this is not
so absolutely true under our own constl-
tuition since we have in America laws
for the punishment of offenders in pub
lie as well as private life; still, no one
can doubt that the apprehension of
censure through the columns of the press
restrains with incaculable power many a
many man enjoying the confidence of
the people and elevated by them to some
position or office Of trust and distinction,
who, were this restraint to be removed
would, by pursuing different course, de-
servedly merit that public condemnation
which II would be impossible TO lnlct
on him. The sovereignty of the people
and the liberty Of the press may be re-
earded as correlative. as the censorship
OF the press and universal suffrage are
two things irreconciliably opposed, and
cannot long be retained among the same
people. That our system is free from
faults, many and grievous, we would not
undertake to affirm. II is subject to
abuses, and so is every other form, no
matter what may be its restrictions, or
however carefully 1t may be guarded, and
yet suits for libel are rather the excep-
ton than the rule. True, there Is with
us boundary beyond which the press
cannot step without violating the law,
which should be as familiar to every
publisher and editor as Is his own day
OF publication and the topics of general
discussion"
or the abuses which the law does not
undertake to regulate and which II
would perhaps be impolitie for legislators
to interfere with, instances are numerous
and well known to all. Notable among
them might be mentioned the tendency,
so prevalent at the present day, to cater
to the lower tastes and ideas OF the peo-
PIE. In endeavorlng to produce that which
is most sensational and pleasing to a
morbid appetite or temporary craze no
matter what may be the result, rather
than the dissemination of that only which
is really worth knowing, or the effect of
which is to elevate the mind and per-
manent.y improve the condition OF man
kind