Evening journal., 1898-05-16
APPEAL VS.. REPRESSION.


In continental Europe the state and
the press are antagonistic This state
ment does not include official and
semi-official newspapers, because they
are creatures of the state itself and
hence part and parcel of the govern
mental machinery. Those governments
look upon all other publications which
deal with political matters as being
naturally opposed to the interests Of
officialdcm because they are, to a
greater or lesser degree, favorable TO the
interests Of the people There the state
subjects the press to a censorship, more
or less rigid according to the character
Of its editorial and news utterances.
This censorship naturally arrays the
press, as a press, against the powers
that be- and the governments lose the
great moral support which is given
where leave to print is considered part
of sound public policy.
Here in America, where the news
papers enjoy such freedom, they are
subjected to practically no censorship,
although the facilities for gathering
and disseminating news are so perfect
as to often embarrass the government
in it's operations. But, for all that,
There is no disposition to take steps
which will interfere with the news
papers which occasion such embarrass-
ment II does not demand that the
foxtcu,ararc r-a afratn from, e,,,h ,,,,t,1fo,
tions, but it appeals to them, as the fol-
lowing dispatch from Washington dis
loses:
The authorities here have been very
much annoyed by publications made in
some newspapers in relation to con-
templated movements OF the land and
naval forces. The most stringent or
ders have been issued by the War and
Navy Departments against giving for
publication any information relating to
military movements, but, as physical
evidence is easily obtainable OF move
ments in course of preparation, the au-
thorities make an earnest appeal TO
publishers to refrain from giving pub
licity to any matter the knowledge OF
which would be serviceable to the enc
my. The secrecy that has marked the
movements Of the Spanish Atlantic
fleet is held up in contrast with the full
reports daily published in American
newspapers Of movements OF United
States vessels, which publications hav,
been OF great value to the Spanist
Government. A few days ago one OF th,
New York papers published maj
showing the location OF every suLma.
rine mine in the harbor Of New York
and there have been other publication.
equally reprehensible since hostilities
commenced. The particular publcatior
alluded TO has been given some atten
tion by the law offers of the govern
ment. There is no doubt that suci
publications constitute an offensl
against the United States, which is pun
ishable by the statutes.
The first part OF that dispatch set
forth the true condition. The last par
Of it means nothing, for the official
would not dare even If they desired. L
run the risk Of losing their main sup
port the united press of the country b.
proceeding against newspapers whicl
are smart enough to keep the publi
fully informed concerning those thing
which they would rather have remaii
secret. The press OF America has ha
too much license in the past to permi
itself to be bridled at a time like thi.
when the people the land over are look
ing to it to keep them fully informe
concerning the progress Of the war. TN
newspapers may heedanappeal, but the
will not submit to official repression.