The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-01-24
and mercenary spirit as do
MANY lawyers under the protec-

many lawyers uHuel Inv PiO'NN
ton of the court. 1t may not
strengthen our own opinion OF our
craft, it may not give us better cour-
age or better judgment to criticise
individuals or common public ofn-
Gals, or even the courts themselves
to prove that the most vigorous de-
tenders of the courts are, under the
court protection, the most yieions de-
famers of all else; but it is at least
due our self-respect that we take IS
sue with this wholesale defamation
of the newspaper craft
Why Contempt Punishment is Taught
The one vital point in the criticism
of punishment by judicial decree for
contempt is that it is not a trial on
evidence. but privileged punish
ment, amenable to nothing but cap
rice, and without any recourse or ap-
neal whatsoever. That courts should
sometimes take this view, and that
their strongest champions should
habitually take refuge behind this
handmade sanctity of the courtroom
in order to make cowardly and UNI
provoked. undefended assaults on
witnesses or enemies, for hire, is the
strongest arraignment of the courts
themselves. This phase of criticism
of public acts is directed against
the lawyers who, sworn in as
part of the court itself, have
muckraked and vilified as have
no other newspapers in the his
tory of America. To those who
do not follow this cowardly meth
3D. it can not possibly apply;
but to those who do it as speci-
fically directed both as individuals
and as a part of the court that
they defend.
We are all Americans, trying to
get what we can out of life, trying
to do mems parts in making things
better for all who live. Doubtless we
do not all think or belive alike;
doubtless there are weak and ignoble
men in newspaperdom as in other
walks of life If all were Solomons
their criticisms would be invaluable,
so, too, if all other men were Solom-
ons, these same criticisms would not
be needed It is the way of life, to
grow by seeing the defects of things
as they are, and to be dissatisfied to
the point of overthrowing the pre-
sent regime for the Utopian ideal we
build in our own fancy. When Thor
waldson the great Danish sculptor
found that he had chiseled statue
that really satisfied him, he burst in
to inconsolable tears Alas" he
said, 81 have commenced to decline;
otherwise, could never have been
satisfied with my own work
No Perfection Claimed.
There is not and never was and,
perhaps, never will be, absolutely
perfect newspaper; now as there
ever an absolutely perfect public Of
ficial, or even an absolutely infallible
or immaculate court. These things
can never be while humanity is hui
man. Until the milleniums, when
there is no further need of newspa-
pers, the need for criticism-hostile,
contradictory, fault finding criticism
will endure One should be
gentleman in his criticism; there are
few so ignorant or so boorish as to
not know the line between wanton
vilification and sharp. though helpful
criticism With the practice of the
law so plain before us in its basing
every charge every accusation, every
prosecution, on motive, we may be
warranted in going far in criticising
the public acts of those we elect to
serve us. A newspaper should be
punished, as should any peace officer,
for using unnecessary vileness or, VIC
lence, but, in all but one case out
of every 10000 the critic will be
justified If he observes common de-
cency..
Here is to theshonest critic and to
the honest man who heeds his criti-
cism. = .