The record-union., 1899-02-09
A MATTER OF JUSTICE.

A MATTER OF JUSTICE.
The unanimous expression Of the IN
1erior press is that Senator Dickinson
will conserve the best interests of JUS
flee by Withdrawing his bill-notwith-
standing it is recommended for passage
-calling for repeal of the security
clause in the libel law. There Is no
passion or heat in the expression to
which we refer 1t does not come
from the sensational press nor is 1t
the echo of flash Journalism. 1t is the
sober judgment of newspaper men with
whom the Legislature has no quarrel
and who conduct their papers with due
regard to good morals. honest judg-
ment and fair criticism.
The interior press as rule is not
wealthy agency A few put by sur
plus, but the mass of journalists must
be content with living while they de-
vote their energies to the upbuilding OF
their communities and to State bet
terment These intelligences hold and
most justly that it is not only unwise
but absolutely harsh to expose them to
the assaults of libel suits by irresponsi-
BILE litigants who can involve them in
costs and be free from any liability to
pay in case they are unsuccessful IN
maintaining their action.
IN however carefully
conducted can, if it publishes the or
binary news of each days doings, avoid
exposure to the liability of being sued
for libel. The law now requires that
libel with prayer for money damages.
he shall give bond in the sum of 5000
as security against costs that may be
adjudged against him, and likewise
conditioned that if he is unsuccessful he
will. meet the charge the law permits
of 800 allowed the defendant to enable
him to pay, in part, his attorneys. This
law the Senate bill 1856 proposes to
wipe out, and against such repeal the
press of interior California enters its
protest But as we have already re-
marked when earlier discussing this
subject, the law was not made for the
protection of newspapers, for it runs
with its benefits to all citizens, and it
is as necessary to the hupblest per-
son as to the newspaper man, to pro-
tect him against wanton litigation and
legal persecution. On the 30th ultimo
the Record Union discussed the mat
ter fully and since then the interior
press has renewed its protest against
the proposed repeal not only in its
own interest, but in the name of COM
mon justice, and in line with the max
i'm that 1.-The law discourages litiga-
tion," whereas the repeal of the stat
ute of 1872 will amount to a direct IN
vitation to bring libel suits and an
noying actions, the majority Of which
will smack Of blackmail.
We have never contemplated such
close relations with the Filipipos as
would open to them the door of citi-
zenship. We do not believe any one
has entertained thought or desire for
such a situation. Yet here we have
the San Francisco Bulletin" implying
by its hint that the extreme expan-
sionists stand for annexation of the
Philippines to the United States with
all the rights which citizens of other
Territories have The Bulletin" says
that placing the Fflipinos in the
same relation to the United States in
respect to Statehood that the inhabi-
tants of Territories hold on the Amer
lean continent, would doubtless be an
acceptable solution to them the radi-
cal expansionists.s This is an unwar-
ranted assumption. Nothing in the
history of the subject justifies the sug-
gestion that such a solution of the
problem would be acceptable to any
one. When the Bulletin proceeds to
ask How win it be with the people
of the United States? Do they want
100000 of people of another race. in
habitants of another continent, added
to our population? That is the real
question to be decided" 1t offends
fair Judgment. It is not the question
to be decided. There is no such ques-
tion before the people. No one with
a tnimbleful of gray matter in the
brain convolutions has suggested any
such issue as desired by any body of
the American people. We endeavor to
keep well advised of expression upon
the subject, and from no source have
we heard of any such thought. This
conjecturai method of treatment adopt
cd by our esteemed contemporary. is
damaging to the cause of truth. 1t is
an unfair and undignified method of dis
cussing public questions. The people
of America are a unit in judgment that
the Filipinos are not to be invested
with citizenship. The real question to
be decided is one of policy as to the
form of governmental control to be ex-
ercised in the Philippines; as to what
will be best for the unhappy people
Spain has so long oppressed; what will
be wise for us and best for them; how
far we can conserve our own material
interests and at the same time forward
the best good of the people of the isl
ands. That we are bound to afford
them stable Government, just and
benef1cent Government, Is conceded by
all but the insurgent Americans and
home copperheads who would have U.