The Brunswick news., 1913-04-24
nasrRlcrlNa TIE PRESS.

fbe HDcecn* Tree 9FeSg tree
rchols, free land and free men, was
cnce slogan in this country tibet
aroused the patriotism of Amer5psh
citizens.
1t is probable that in the expert
ence Of republic. as In a monarchy
there comes time when thore ia
distinct tendency to re9trirt the
freedom Of the citizen, tte press and
1.-THE tongue. There has been mark
led tendency, both in legislatures and
courts, gradually to aicroach on the
Freedom Of speech aAd the freedom
Of the press that We have been taught
were secured to Is by constitutional
guarantees
Tho SDpFtu; especially, are showing
o tenaency to resent criticism from
ithe safess. and having a curious, ir.
irasivnshble power III the mater OF
punishment for contempts Of court.
lare In position TO hanrass thoae
members OF the press who realize
their duty to the public and fearless
" dscharge it. The idaho case, prop
erly denounced by former President
Roosevelt, in which newspaper nicn
1
were punished for contempt for mere.
" publishing rs matter OF news,
the report Of court case, is still
fresh in the public mind.
It has always been considered by
intelligenN negpapcr men that
newspaper has be legal right TO pub.
lish, as news. py matter tina, is OF
record in the tAarts or In public
documents. Thd supreme court ol
colorado has heidY within ahe past
few weeks, that Newspaper cannot,
without subjectIng itself to the pains
and penalties of criminal and civil
bbel procedure, publish the sworn
testimony Of Witness IN a case in
. court and OF record, unless the pub
llishef knows CT his own knowledge
that the facts testified to under oa.h
| are true.
There IL constant effort on the
4
part Of the courts to eurtail the an
cient liberties CT the rress, upon
y FT1Fi the ifDvrties or ali other
olasses and professions depend.
Fvarpshere we hear OF legislatures
attempting to pass laws that have
the same tendency to strike dcwn
one of the recognized bulwatks CT
liberty.
Congress has passed law, be
lieyed to ~ unconstitutional, that
compels newspaper publishers to dis.
close their ufIyate business afraIFs.
and there is 'hew a bill before the
leame hcdv wiktsh asi., s..s...;,.. = ,,,.,,z
vent newspapefA from publishing tie
details OF crimes and accidents ii
the District Of oegpmbia. Legislators
are folgetting THAI publicity Is se
very best remedy spk crime and isl
the rights Of victis 81 aeeas siess-& arc
Ecften preserved by the accounts civ
en- in the newspapers. The same
Ibody that is apparently to be led in.
Ito the passing of this useless aud
dangerous law. is strenously demand.
Iing that full publicity be given to the
facts Of It's own committees. An
proper enough, but publicity is as
ltnuch needed in the every day aGfairs
Isf men as in the political actions Of
LEGISLATORS.
The tendency is to curtail the 6ela
tcf public usefulness OF the nesspn.
per, because the newspaper is the
institution that can be depended mon
Eat all times to throw the light of pub.
llclsy INTO dark places aud to expose
the rottenness OF those who deserve
l's eensure and fear its powerl
Newspapers object to no reason.
aole restrictions. but they will not
summit to tyranny either from the
courts or from Legislators. and. stani.
Ing on the solid rork of the constitu-
elon. viii win any fight that is made
against thcm.
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while never surrendering a prin.
leIple. The News is at the sama ti,na