The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-06-05

l.ass Rssers Of the Republican Man
lDalss0rs Results In COmfound-
ing the 0rigasds.

For nearly half a century the state
Of Pennsy lvania has boen ruled BY
:onfederated scoundrels In the service
Of confederated monopolists and In
the name Of the republican party.
Political conditions have grown steadi-
ly worse and worse, until the entire
country has been shocked by the
enormity Of the corruption and plum
derings Of the Quay machine. 1t be
came necessary, therefore. 10 prevent
publicity in order to perpetuate the
power Of the brigands, and hence the
Quay majority in the legislature at
its last session passed bill for the
protection Of corruptionists against
criticism and the suppression Of truth
by means Of radical changes in the law
Of libel.
The object Of the new libel law,
which was signed by Gov. Pennypack-
er on the 18th of May. is clearly two
fold-to terrorize the press and to re-
ward blackmailers and shysters. 1t
creates a new artificial crime by re-
curing under a penalty the name OF
the editor and the proprietor OF every
periodical or newspaper to be con-
spicuously printed therein. 1t pro-
vides for compensatory damages to
any person who may be made the 10
tim of mental or physical suffering"
by reason Of any negligent" publica-
ton whether true or false. 1t thus at
tempts to abrogate the established law
OF libel which allows the truth TO be
given in evidence on the plea OF justi-
fication; which requires malice to be
shown except where falsehood 10
proven-in which case malice is pre-
sumed--and which gives no damages
for mental or physical suffering. but
only for injury to reputation" which
is treated as property. This remark
able change is the result of that part
Of the act which gives punitive dam
ages" to anyone who has been sub
jected TO mental or physical suffer
ing by reason Of cartoons. or head
lines in large type, or other device
calling special attention to any al
legged delinquency Of public officers.
The entire act is a penal statute in dis
guise and was born Of the same princi-
Piles and aims which gave rise TO the
sedition law passed by congress in
l79s by the federalists. And not since
the great campaign against that ORR
Gus act, conducted by Jefferson and
Madison. has there been a more uni
versal or indignant protest against
any act of an American legislature.
Even The republican newspapers de-
nounce ii as an outrage. Gov. Penny
packer has been excoriated for sign
ing it. and ridiculed for his absurd at
tempt to justify its enactment. But
the governor is no more guilty than
the legislature which enacted ii. He
has done no more than the federal
administration has done along the
same line. The odious Philippine Sc
dition law. adopted by congress and
, approved by the president. is indeed
far worse than this new Pennsylvania
sedition law. Gov. Pennypacker's rea
, ;oning in his remarks on the necessie
, and utility of the act might have beer
borrowed from the answer Of Secre
tary Root in the mandamus case o,
Taylor vs.. Root. or even from thu
opinion Of the court in that case. Thu
, general trend of the official class un
. der the republican regime is indeed
, better exhibited by Gov. Pennypackel
. and the Pennsylvania legislature thar
. II is by those newspapers which criti
! else them In national politics Charles
, Emory Smith has shown himself Il
be precisely what Pennypacker is il
, state politics. The medieval. mon
archical and federalist spirit which
: dominates the entire republican ma
: chine is simply the essence Of thu
, new Pennsylvania libel law. as IL i
Of ali the federal laws passed b. tn
came machine. Ii is fortunate for TIL
country that Quay and his cousin. Pen
/, nypacker. have given us an object les
! SON in imperialism which even tn
). Philadelphia press can understand
: and II Is reasonable now TO hope tina
: the entire country may have its eye
, opened TO the corrupt, domineering
; vicious policy Of the republican party
II is reasonable. indeed. to hope tina
, in 1904 we may witness such revul
I. sion Of public sentiment against fed
, eralism and its methods Of suppression
; and fraud as that which carried dem
|. ocrat into the presidential Office Il
; 1900.