New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-17
NEWS AND FOLLY.

The failure Of the steamer Gusse TO land her
military supplies for the insurgents IN Cuoa
has naturally caused much disappointment IL
it has caused much surprise, that Is only an
other proof Of human folly She sailed on May
10. and the fact was Immediately communi-
Gated to the world, with full particulars as to
her general destination and her exact cargo.
Everybody was authorized to be cheerful over
the announcement that she carried 1000 rifles
ond 200 600 rounds of ammunition, which would
doubtless be delivered without delay just where
they would do the most good Instantly every
Spanish agent In the United States knew as
much at least as the public here knew. which
was nltogether too much: and in ample time to
receive the expedition the Spanish authorities
in Cuba knew all they needed to know as the
result lamentably proves. Why should that
result astonish our Government or any news
paper reader: The Cuban insurgents do not
control. and never have controlled. any part OF
the Cuban coast The Spanlards always have
had and still retain by land. access to and
ready communication with every part Of It. II
is not improbable that they knew In advance
where the Gussie would try to put In, and they
would have been far from fit for the business OF
war in the island where they have been con
without exact Information, they had been I'M
able TO devise sure means OF intercepting her.
This incident Is n striking imitation Of blum
ders which led to humilating reverses during
the early part of the Civil War. Is II said that
the newspapers published the departure and
described the cargo Of the Gussie? SO they
did. Such Is their occupation Let 1t be said
right here that the newspapers are not engaged
fort
eminent which the Government takes no pains
to keep for itself If its officers tattle TO every
correspondent about what they are going TO do
whose fault Is 1t If the plans become known!
And even II the Government confesses that 1t
cannot control the tongues OF its own officers,
1t can surely control the telegraph lines. Speak
ing for The Tribune. and, as we believe, for all
other reputable and patriotic newspapers. we
declare that the Government will make an I'M
pardonable mistake if II does not Insist that It's
press censors shall really suppress what ought
not to be published. censorship that doesn't
censor Is as foolish az a blockade that doesn't
blockade News of things accomplished can
generally be made known without harm. Ex-
pectations, If they are worth entertaining
are almost invariably worth concealing. The
authorities ought to have refused TO pass, and
forbidden the telegraph companies to send, a
single word about the preparations and depart
IRE Of the Gussie. 1t Is not enough-t Is
nowhere near enough-to intercept dispatches
which obviously are meant for the private In
formation Of the Spanish Government. We
may feel sure that It and It's agents scattered
over the United States In unknown places and
numbers possess every essential requisite for
the swift and secret communication OF intelli-
gence which Is common property here. The
transmission OF facts which the enemy wants
to know can be prevented only by con1dlng
the facts to those alone TO whom they must be
known, and by forcing upon them absolute
secrecy by the severest requirements Of rigid
military discipline.
We say again that news OF such affairs as
the expedition Of tho Gussie should be kept out
Of the newspapers by being kept Off the wires.
1t is not the province of the newspapers. nor is
1t within their power to discriminate. The
very fact Of the censorship authorizes CORE
spondents and editors TO suppose that what has
passed 1t Is fit for publication. Even II 1t were
not so, the case would rot be improved. What
all can send some will print, and therefore all
may as we'll print. There Is no opportunity for
useful discrimination when dispatch Is once
released And. therefore, we insist that cen
sorshp which Is established by authority for
good purpose and which. If absolutely i'm
partial and intelligcntly rigid. would be heartily
approved by The Tribune and all responsible
Journals, shall take no chances.