Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-21
Bonaparte's Address.

~sSE>ssA SS oooACSSs
There Is nothing patsntable in the dis
covery that ours is a government of pub
lie opinion; the statement of this fact
has. indeed, become SO me chanfcal
through 1ong-continued repetition and the
absence Of all contradiction that a good
many people have lost sight of its mean
ing. and might find no little difficulty in
explaining either just what public opinion
Is or just how it guides and controls our
public affairs.
During the past two months I have
seen published allegations to the effect
tnas public opinion condemns capital pun
lsnment' consider these alterations
wholly erroneous; according to INV ot,ser-
walton, public opinion, that is to say, the
mature judgment of the average maa. de-
mands a more prompt and more certain
inniction of the death penalty for GER
tain crimes than is generally afforded in
the administration Of our criminal Iaw
ana this demand too often finds expres.
SION IN violent and lawless acts. or. at
least. In the liberation of such excuses.
what Is mistaken for public opinion In
to capital sentences, and, indeed. to anv
form OF punishment involving physical
pam, entertained by a small, but obtru-
slve and noisy, portion Of the community.
and inspired mainly by morbid sympa-
thy wI.h wrongdoers, which, fortuna telv
Iof our country, Is shared by very few
Americans.
"On the other hand, in certain parts OF
the Union there undoubtedly exists a
genuine and widespread popular anttpa-
my 70 black, red or yellow men, even
10 some white men Of foreign birth: and
us consequences are a source of anxiety
ana regret to all thoughtful and patriotic
citizens; but the eballitions of this al
most instructive enmity cannot be called,
with any propriety. Of language. indica.
tons Of public opinion.
Cutlery Not Opinion.
FINALLY, we must bear in mind that
although loud outcry sometimes is
caused by an indignity or shock to p,,b-
lie opinion, the ousery in itself Is mot n,h-
lie opinion, nor even any Trustworthy
proof that public opinion has been. in
fact, irritated or shocked. The federal
Department of Justice and its presen.
very unworthy head were the objects last
summer of much apparently ill-informed
OF disinsenuoas censure on the part of a
nunfper OF newspapers; and, to one who
judged OF the trend of public opinion
from the clippings furnished by a, mress
agency. 1t might well have appeared that
american public opinion desired some
n men, ana especially some corporations
laws so"ie VI our
may not be an altogether impa rita,
Judge In this case. but I am thorouehiv
i Gony,nced. on what seems to my mind
nnin,nn Ies d proof. that American public
posite view. and demands WITH daily
increasing emphasis that all our laws
be alike respected by all our citizens'
Us not the opinion expressed by
american newspapers or any other
class Of professed public comrnentators
and critics, unless these really exnress
what the average American citizen re-
any thfnks-thinks and says by his
hreside, at his plough or his worS
bench, in his shop or office or coun+3ns !.
room-in short, wherever he thinks anS
| says what he thinks without thinkinS
also OF those who may hear. This Leads
me naturally to say a few words of
Function Of the Press
The press makes each community .o-
quainted with its neighbor. And. a.
We know other men better, wa recoo.
nice the more thoroughly and readilv
| their likeness to ourselves. ana an !.
| consequences, the universal application
| OF underlying moral laws amidst All
diversities Of natural or local custom
| or prejudice. A well-known writer once
protested against the perversion nj
conscience which, pronounced the sans
| conduct right on one side OF 3 noun.
t TAN range ana wrong on the other;
tnanks 70 the newspapers, we know
| both countries well enough to see that
just because 1t Is right In the. one
| case 1t Is wrong in the other. precisely
| as the color barometer is pink during
1t blue In clear weather.
IT Is the existence Of this. common
moral standard which sanaiifes the
press for its highest and most useful
| instrument OF coercion posscsseS hv
society against its weaker or mora
dangerous members is the influence of
| public opinion. ~
1T must be noted. however, that the
fact that It speaks. or Is believed To
speak. what everybody IL sayinr at
the time. As soon as Z paper Il REQ.
ognixed a. somebody's 'or6sn,' e a.