The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-08-22

Judge Ewart' sentence of the Asheyill
Citizens editor for contempt of court
will be read with interest:
The courts should be as free as posslbl
from uni ust shafts OF criticisms. but
their actlSns are corrupt they shoul
not fail to be assaied. Public Opinion
enjoys the highest prerogatives an
wlelds great deal more influence tha
any court.-Raleigh Press
The freedom OF the press is the bes
evidence OF the freedom of the people
Any encroachment upon the rights OF thi
great cOnservatOr OF the liberties of tn
people IS an attack upon the peopl
themselves.
Judge Ewart's conduct in the case G
the Ashevile Citizen, has been adversel
commented upon.-Charlotte Neus.
1t appears to us that Judge Ewart i
! entirely OFF his base in attemptine tt
send an editor to Jail for an honest crit
clsm upon the action Of the aforesai,
Judge. To muzzle the press would be ,
long stride towards monarchy. Th
rasult OF Editor Robinson's appeal tt
the Supreme Court will be awaited Will
deep interest.-Winston Sentinel.
Newspapers sometimes trancend tn,
proprieties of their calling, and so dc
Judges sometimes. We are reminded O
this by the harsh sentence by Judge
Ewart OF the Ashevillc Citizen for a crit
clsm couched in decent language, and
clearly intended for the public good
The abuse of that, "brief authority
that the position gives will always react
on the Judge who is guilty of it.-Dur,
ham Globe.
An editor should be very careful about
speaking cOntemptuously of courts and
Judges, but his duty requires him to be
fearless IN his criticisms OF wrong whether
on the bench or elsewhere We don't
know the facts about the Asheville case
and consequently have no opinion tn
express on the merits. We do know,
however, that there have been many,
very many, Judges in North Carolina,
both Democratic and Republican, who
have served long terms on the bench and
who never had to imprisOn any editor to
keep the respect of the press and the
people. A Judge who does wrong ought
to be criticised, but the criticism should
be fair and sincere. A Judge who does
right can stand good deal of criticism
before he lnvokes the power of his posi-
tion to enforce respect.-MOrganton Her.
ald
The editorial complained OF simply
states that the case was not removed on
It's merits, and that the Judge should
satisfy the people that he acted wisely
IN the matter, and the editor says no re-
flectlon on the integrity of the court was
intended. 1t appears to be a fair and
honest criticism of the action OF the court,
which is perfectly legimate, or should be
in free country, and Judge Ewart has
acted very unwisely in the matter. 1t is
simply tyrannical, and should meet the
frown OF intelligent people. We were not
aware that Judges were above criticism.
An appeal was taken to the Supreme
court where, if an honest hearing is had,
MIR. Robinson will be vindicated.
Judge Ewart has made no friends by
his recent action against the editor of
the Asheville Citizen. He lost bis head
and brought reproach upon the position
his atcions should honor. -Brevard
Hustler.
The public will await the decision OF
our higher court with deepinterest. The
question of how far an editor may go in
criticising public official is an impor-
tant one, both for the press and the
public. There are those who would have
censor of the press and pnnish every
editor who dares criticize public officials.
There are others still who believe that
the widest latitude should be given the
press in the confidence that, whatever
may be said, the people will ultimately
repudiate an unjust and false critic, and
that an upright official will not be in
jured by untruthful criticism or partisan
abuse. Whenever you begin to put
editors in Jail for the honest expression
OF opinion, it is but step toward exer-
cising a censorship over the press, and
making editors fawn before power.
There is but one further step-and that
leads US to the rule of u Czar.-Ra.eigh
Neus and Observer
The Landmark passes its sympathy to
Editor Robinson, of the Ashevile Citizen,
and assures him of it's cordial sympathy
and hearty support. His case is one
that vitally affects every editor in North
Carolina and is of vital Importance to
the people OF the State as we'll. When
ever the day comes that any man who
may be elevated to the bench can sum
mon before him any editor who dareS
criticise his official cOnduct-nO matter
how respectfully or with what degree O
fairness that criticism may be made
pass upon the case himself, adjudge the
defendant guilty and fine and imprisor
him for contempt-wes say, whenever that
day comes, goodbye to the freedom o
the press and to free speech, and good
bye to the liberty of the people. II
affects the people because thenewspaper'
are the best friends the Ieople have. and
when they ere stopped from freely telling
the people about men and measures
then the people will suffer.-Statesvillt
Landmark.
Judge Ewart, who was a member o
the last Legislature, and who helped tC
create u criminal court for the purpose
ofgetting u job as Judge, has got his ire
up and is.feeling his Importance. Week
before last the court was in session at
Asheville and a murder case was called
The Judge removed the case to Hender-
son county, saying the defendant could
not get Justice in Buncombe county.
For doing this the Caizen criticized him,
whereupon the great and learned Judge
had the editor OF the paper up for con.
tempt. The editor claimed that no o0n
tempt was intended, hut all the same he
was fined $3.50 and sentenced to 30 days in
jail. The editor took an appeal to the
Supreme court. Judge Boykin, who
tried the Shemwell-Payne murder case
was criticized for not moving the case to
another county, yet You hear OF no such
proceeding being instituted against those
who criticized him. 1t simply shows the
makeup of the two men. Ewart by
virtue OF his Office, thinks he is abOv.
criticism and seeks to muzzle the mouth
OF the press, while the other, Boykin, who
is broad minded man, cannot See any
thing wrong in a paper speaking its hon
est sentiments. When free speech is de
MED the press troubous times are ahead
for the people in North Carolna.-Lc
noir 2opir.