New-York tribune., 1901-09-24
THE LIMITS OF CRITICISM.

Since the assassination of President Mckinney
q few apologists for the indecent abuse 10 WHICH
be was subjected have come forward III crlu-
cism of the almost universal feeIng that the
verbal and pictorial representation OF the ffesl
dent as a scoundrel, a murderer, an oppressoI
of the Door and a tool of trusts lar trahscehueu
the limits Of legitimate opposition, anu tehoed
TO provoke insane passions and violence 1t Is
said that the present indignation against rech-
less vilication of public men is lrratlohal. anu
that the people in their present mood surviving
10 put down anarchy and indictments TO an
archy. would overturn the safeguards OF liberty
and free government Full freedom OF puDiic
criticism. we are told, must be preserved, and
| the inference is that a public sentiment whlch
forbade such abuse as President Mckinley was
subjected to would result In a muzzled press
and platform But has liberty become license?
Is the art of effective but decent opposition en-
trely lost? Have orators and editors no longer
the cleyerness or power to arouse interest or
carry conviction without resort to bilngsgate
and reckless falsehood, such once were re-
parded as marks Of weakness in argument
rather than of strength? Have the people so
degenerated that sane reasoning no longer in
fuences them and that the only resource of
those who would not see them sink into apathy
and slavery is violent language and appeals to
prejudice:
OF course. the freedom of discussion must be
preserved Constitutions guarantee free speech
and a free press, but always subject TO respon-
sibilty for abuse Of those rights. But is the
line between the rights and their abuse strictly
enough drawn. and. also is evident trans
crossing over the line no matter how loosely
drawn. punished by law or public opinion as it
should be? There can be no question Of the
right of a citizen TO crticse the Presidents
policies most severely. For instance, Senator
Hoar's remark that the subjugaton of the
PhIipDnes meant 'the abandonment of the
"principIes upon which our government Is
founded. and it will change our republic into
IAN empire" was within the limits of 1egiti-
mate cricitism 1t was view of the ten
dency of public policy. Another orator, who,
because the President carried out that policy,
talked about Mckinley with his wicked and
'cowardIy heart, raising his bloodstained hands
Ito heaven in hypocritical prayer" transcended
those limits and descended not only to per
sonal abuse but to unpatriotic attack upon
thority IT Is one thing TO disapprove war,
quite another 10 call the officials who perform
their duties at the head OF a nations armies
thieves and murderers.
Likewise, it is perfectly legitimate for those
who think that the administrations policy
favors certain fnanciers to- point out the
grounds of that belief, but it is not legitimate
daily TO hold up to the hatred Of the ignorant
the President of the United States the
temptible tool Of repulsive villains engaged in
imaginary atrocities. Sarcasm ridcule and de-
nunciation are all proper instruments Of politi-
cal opposition, but those who them
morally bound TO use them with due sense of
responsibility and due regard for truth and
not to call an official scoundrel in mere preju-
dice, confessedy without facts to warrant such
a conclusion. The acts Of public official are
always subject to more rigid scrutiny and
sharper criticism than those of private in
diyidual, but lie about him is just as much a
lie as one about anybody else. and is abuse Of
the freedom OF speech and the press. If we
is murderer. let US know the facts, and call
him one by all means. If we find that he steals
let us expose the rascality. But let not an Of
fetal be called murderer or a thief just as an
incident 10 intemperate opposition to his public
policy. He ought to be protected from such
outrageous libes well any other man.
a public officer can hardly look to the law for
such protection without seeming to interfere
with free speech though even In this free coun-
try officers have not feared to call to account
in court those who personally slandered them.
He ought, however, to be protected by public
opinion frownng unbridled political bitter
ness. Always after period Of such bitterness
the people come to see its injustice and to regret
| II. The hotheads who abused Washington and
gravely charged that he was surrendering our