The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-06-05
THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.

I'G 1t0EnJH VT TIE TnGo0.
If there is any one thing of which
Americans boast, it is the freedom
of the press enjoyed in this country
under the laws and the constitution.
The first article in addition to the
constitution of the United States. pro-
posed by Congress and ratified by the
legislatures Of the several states, de-
clares that Congress shall make no
law "abridging the freedom of speech
or of the PRESS
Liberty of the press, as understood
by Americans. consists in the publica-
ton of newspapers without previous
restraint, or censorship. subject only
to punishment for libelous. seditious, or
morally pernicious matters.
In European countries, newspapers
are under the supervision Of the gov
eminent and can be suppressed at any
moment. The editors can be prosecuted
for sedition and many of them have
been fined and Imprisoned. In Eng
land, which boasts so much Of free
dom, the press has been frequently
prosecuted by the government for its
fearless utterances in behalf of the peo-
pie. John Wilkes and William Goblet
in the 18th century suffered pains and
penalties. and later on the great Lord
Erskine in his defense of the liberty
Of the press made himself famous.
In Ireland, Curran and O'Connell de-
Tended the editors in their day and in
their speeches for Finerty and McGee
the latter Of whom was prosecuted for
alleged libel on the Duke Of Richmond,
and the former for publishing the pro-
clamation of the United Irishmen, the
two great forensic orators made a
reputation at the bar that has never
been surpassed in any country. In later
years In Ireland newspaper editors have
been cast into prison. and it has come
to pass that the editor who has not
served at least one term in prison is
looked upon with suspicion by the
people whose cause he espoused.
But coming back to "the sweet land
of liberty" what do we find? In the
time Of John Adams the "alien and
sedition laws" were passed and editors
We're prosecuted by the government.
Matthew Lyons. celebrated Irish
journalist who lived in New HAMPSHIRE.
was prosecuted for criticising Adams
administration and sent to prison. After
his release, as a rebuke to Adams and
his officials he was elected to the
United States senate by the indignant
citizens of the Granite State. In the
next national election Adams and his
followers were ousted and from that
day to the reign of Theodore Roose-
welt. except during the Civil War, no
newspaper was prosecuted by the gov
eminent of the United States.
Toward the end Of Roosevelt's Sec
ond term and during last years presi-
dental campaign. this swashbuckler in
Seieue%N AIDCI SuIlS dS dlnSC the
New York World and the INDIANAPOLIS
News for mentioning his wife's broth
err and Taft's brother in connection
with Panama Canal graft. The cas-.
of the News is now going on in the
Hoosier metropolis. The proprietors
of the paper are stoutly resisting re-:
moval for trial to the District of Col
umbia and claim the right OF being
tried in their own state. Judge An
derson of the United States court ia
hearing the case. and so far as it has
gone. the defendants have won several
points against the government by his
rulings. He declared that malice IN
civil action was very different from
malice in a criminal case and con-
t.:ued:
"Of course, there is back OF this the
intent" said Judge Anderson The
owner of a newspaper might very we'll
be held civilly for anything that ap-
peared in his pages. because the men,