Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-15
ABUSE is NOT CRITICISM,

Freedom Of speech and Of the press
10 guaranteed By the Constitution Of the
United States This gives proper lib
erty IN this respect to everybody In
the land. The Constitution Of the
state Of Utah also affords this security
10 all its citizens or course there is n
limit to the lawful exercise Of free
dom. This Is defined In the statutes
aeaiust lihellous publications. The IN
tent Of the supreme law IS to prevent
encroachments upon the reasonable
and proper liberty Ia tell the truth. II
does not cover personal abuse and
Islander, II does not justify anyone in
defamlng another, impeachlng the hon
esty, integrity, virtue or reputation OF
one who is alive, to expose him to
public hatred, contempt or rldIcule, nor
in blackening the memory of one who is
dead.
Fair criticism Of the acts Of public
officer or OF a public measure is allow
able under the law, and Is protected
by constitutional provision. No one
imbued with the spirit OF American lib
erty would seek to suppress Just cri-
ticism OF public men or public meas
ures Private character and private
opinion are not proper objects for pub
lie attack Free speech, whether orally
or by the press, should be encouraged
TO the fun limit only by such means
can error be exposed and refuted and
schemes detrimental to individuals and
to society be explained and defeated.
Fair aud free criticism should he main
tained and with proper limits be en-
oouraeed
While freedom 10 crltloise may be
Justly claimed both as a legal and a
moral right SANDER Is not justlhable
from any point Of view Rightful criu-
clsm may be- exercised In reference to
some specific net or theory or argu-
ment. That IS one thing Holding up
an individual TO abuse, defamation,
contempt and rcrrohatiou In q general
way without relation to any proven
deed or announcement is another thing
and IS decidedly wrong ana unlawful,
Proper criticism has In view the dem.
onstration 81 u-lh by the exposition
Of error or the preservation of the
state from government by unit per-
sons, whose acts character and oplu-
ions are tuthfuly shown to render
them unworthy Of official station,
Abuse by heaplng vile cpthets upon an
opponent, denouncug him without just
cause, presenting him IN a false light
and venting upon him outpourIngs Of
wrath, IS not criticism, but Islander,
while just criticism is strong, abuse is
exceedingly weak The former gives
food for reflection, the latter simply
provokee disgust No clear reasoner
will confounl the two, not Justify ono
by the other
Freedom OF speech, lnciudiug ration
al criticism for a good purpose, ia up
held In the Mormon church In har-
mony with The Constitution and laws OF
the state. But there is % time and a
place for all things. order must be
maintained ana tho rights Of every in
divldual, whatever may be his position,
must be recognized. Each person has
right to his opinions and to express
them on proper occasion, but no mem-
Der has the right TO abuse another to
Islander him, 10 defamo his character or
10 hold him mp TO ridicule ana con.
tempt That Is in itself a violation Of
Church discipline and OF common de-
cency.
In the Church Of Christ, while consti-
tuted and recognized authority prevails
In the conduct OF It's affairs, the prin-
ciple OF common consent is upheld and
the voice Of the majority Is final, both
AS 10 rules and to doctrine In the
councils Of the Church individual views
are solicited and expressed. But con-
tentlon Is condemned as not conducive
20 the general welfare, but used 70 pros
mote individual mastery and triumph
This is not In accord with the spirit OF
the Gospel The voice OF the majority
is and should be the end Of controversy
II any member OF the Church Is gull.
tty OF conduct contrary to IT'S principles
and regulations he Is amenable TO us
courts. No one In the Church from the
President to the newest member IS ex-
empt from this discipline. There ls