Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-24

more relation to the strength Of those
sinews than the tenacity Of fiber
silk, for example-has to Its bulk
London Spectator.
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
Greatest Force Of Enlightenment Says
Colonel George Harvey.
Col. George Harvey, editor Of Har-
per's Weekly, In an address delivered
before the Chicago Press Club on the
celebration OF its 25th anniversary last
Wednesday, said:
There Is no press in the world COM
parable to that Of America in freedom
from influence, political or social, from
venality. from contamination of any
kind whatsoever. In France. a news
papers opinions are matter OF
francs, In England, too often, Of titles;
in Germany, Austria and Spain, Of inn
perial favor; in Russia, Of absolute
censorship. In America, thanks to the
maintenance Of the sturdy traditions
established by the Greeleys, Raymonds,
Danas, Bennetts, Medills and Bowleses.
of the past, the fundamental integrity
of the press cannot be impugned. 1t
is faithful, but 1t Is free. We have our
sadly exaggerated headlines on week
days, and our monstrosities on Sun
days; we have amazing productions Of
no less amazing art" we have columns
and columns Of crime, and pages and
pages Of waste. Finally, not least, at
any rate, In numbers, we have our
red and white papers, sometimes re-
ferred to as yellow journals"
Personally, I should be Of the last
to defend or make apology for this
latest manifestation Of commercialism,
misdireeted ambition and false doc
trines in the American press. But,
however, seriously we may regret and
resent the ebullition, we cannot ig-
more the irresistible conclusion that
this particular channel, and this alone
affords vent for unexpressed beliefs
and suspicious which can be dissipated
only by the clear rays Of reason fol-
lowing any form Of expression.
AS contrasted with our own country,
Russia today stands forth vivid ex-
ample of the effect Of suppressed opin-
ion. Discomfort would better burn
than smolder. The continuous kissing
of offensive gases escaping Is not
pleasant, but 1t is infinitely preferable
to the otherwise inevitable explosion.
Yet more important, more vital to the
permanence Of a government or a
whole people by themselves, is abso-
lutte freedom of expression. Upon that
all depends. Restrict 1t, or create the
impression II" suspicious minds 'tnat--it
Is being restricted and you SOW the
wind.
With this general dictum few II any
would have the hardihood to disagree.
But 1t is often, and regret to say Of
ten truly. urged that liberty is sub
verted to license. Freedom Of speech,
freedom Of publicity, yes; all admit
the wisdom and necessity Of preserv-
ing both. But how frequently is ad-
ded, especially by men in public office,
a vigorous defamation against "un-
fair criticism" and how almost daily
is uttered, sometimes a violent and un-
warranted, sometimes dignified and
justifiable. protest against invasion
of privacy" "encroachment upon per-
sonal rights" and like offenses.
Only those behind the curtain OF
editorial sanctum can fully appreciate
the proportion Of insincerity contain
ed in the virtuous avowals of shy
and retiring, though weak and human
beings Of both sexes. In nine cases
out of ten, the most vociferous protest
ray be attributed safely to self-suf-
ficiency, snobbishness or a guilty con-
science. There is so little Of malice
In American newspapers as to be un-
worthy Of notice, but it Is unquestion-
ably true that too little heed Is paid
to the fact that unwilful misrepresen-
tation is often quite as serious In ef-
feet.
Worst of all Is the refusal to rectify
a known error. Cursed be the man
who initiated the policy Of never max
ing a retraction In the columns of his
journal. The mere fact that an indi-
vidual, whether right or wrong. Is vir-
tually voiceless and helpless In contro-
versy with a newspaper. should and
does morally vest him with the right
to exceptional consideration. A lie
once started can never be stopped, but
the one responsible for its circulation
directly, who fails to exert every pos
sible endeavor to that end Is unworthy
of association with decent men. An
American newspaper should be an
American gentleman.
To see the right is genius; TO DO II
is courage. Unite the two under the
banner Of sane idealism, and the most
potent force in the cause Of progress
enlightenment and good will lie In
the free press Of America.
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