The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-12
1t Is the PubIic'S Fault,

The recent characterization by Jus
tice Mitchell, of the Pennsylvania Su-
preme court of one of the grave evils
of the day warrants repetition. In his
opinion in the Smith Mcclure libel suit
he sad
The license which the press assumes to
itself in the ruthless hunt for SEN
sational news. and in the unsparing in
Vasion of private affairs with which the
public has no rightful concern, is the
disgrace of modern journalism, and one
of the greatest menaces to free institu-
tions. 1t may we'll dispose juries in
proper case to give large damages both
compensatory and punitive.
In line with this opinion are the re-
marks made upon the same subject by
John p. Altgeld in his farewell message
as governor of Illinois. The latter
says:
The legislature owes it to the people of
this state to devise some reasonable pro-
lection against the outrageous newspaper
license on the part of great journals, of
which the people are now victims. News
paper abuse terrorizes the people and de-
ters many of our best citizens from TAX
ing part in public affairs No measure
can be considered which will in any way
interfere with the fullest publication of
the news or with full comment on current
events, and there must be reasonable al
lowance for mistakes honestly made.
What should be aimed at is to do away
with the anonymous and dark-alley fea-
lures of modern newspaperism. This is
where towards rOoS- and where SneakS
take refuge. AS yet there are but few
great journals in the United States that
meet the definition of a newspaper Many
| .nal fiCaNN
gans, often used maliciously, and instead
of publishing the news fairly they make
it their daily business to garble and mis-
state it, This in itself IS perhaps not a
| proper subject for legislation, but when
men who are ashamed to give their names
| hide behind a newspaper hedge and throw
mud at people who are walking on the
| highway, then the public has a right to
| complain, and has a right to insist that
| this be stopped or, If II is impossible to
| stop 1t, that then it should be known to
| the world who are the Offenders
| There is a principle involved here, and
| that is, that no man can be permitted to
set himself up as a public censor and pro-
| ceed to wrong those whom, for any
| reasons he does not like. The mere fact
| that a man is able to buy presses and hire
| a lot of men who must do his will does
| not give him any more rights than are
| possessed by other people.
| Tho pronouncement of Justice Mitch
| ell. ii will be observed, is dispaSsionate
and general. as BELTS the bench, while
| that of the recent governor of Illinois
| exhibits personal feeling, not perhaps
wholly unjustified; but in both deliver
ances there is much of truth and JUS
tice. No one will more readily admit
| this than the fair-minded newspaper
editor himself. We have yet to meet
| a Journalist of mental breadth and in
telligence who does not deplore the
fact that a large majority of the read
ers of newspapers appear to prefer to
| give their business support to
papers which are frivolous,
tlippant, impudent or sensational in
stead of TO papers conducted with ac-
acknowledgement of their moral respon-
sibility. The fact is nowhere more
| earnestly regretted than among such
journalists that publications pattern
ed after the New York World and
Journal can almost in every city gair
large circulations and profitable ad'
vertising patronage while papers like
the New York Evening Post ana the
Philadelphia Public Ledger apparently
cannot hope to make both ends meet
outside of the special and unique con-
ditions which render those two admir-,
able enterprises self-supporting.
The point we wish to emphasize il
simply this-that American Journalism
on the whole is a faithful reflex of III,
predominant tone Of American society
1t could not exist in England, becaus,
it would not receive pecuniary sup
port there. Neither could the imper
sonal and heavy British type of news
paper, despite it's superior cleanliness
and punctiliousness, find readers il
America sufficient to avert a visitation
from the sheriff. We concur fully il
the remark of Colonel Mcclure tha
reputable journalism will heartily co
; operate with the judiciary in main
tanning that elf-resrecting attitude o
newspapers which protects public ant
private character and which denounce
I and Furnishes reckless license in an.
and every channel;" but neither tn
| judiciary nor the executive depart