The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-06

that Congress shall make no Law
aoridgins freedom OF speech or ef the
press Newspapers are the country's
greatest educational institution. Light
IS the best policeman. and publicity
IS n best regulator Of the affairs OF
a community. and ordinarily an at
tempt 10 censor or repress publlca-
tlons produce a condition Of affairs
tnat are TO the best in
terests OF a community. The liberty
OF the press should be highly priced
and guarded ~sacredly. and the ahus.
OF such liberty is 10 be greatly de-
plored- While all true men and NO.
men coincide in these ideas Of the
liberty OF the press they nkewis oar
eide with Mr.. Justice Holmes in a
recent opinion in condemnation Of an
editor IN the State Of Washington.
Who printed in his newspaper matter
intended TO encourage disrespect for
law The nations highest court sus-
tanned the editors conviction.
While the liberty Of the press must
De maintained, yet the turning Of that
liberty into dangerous license must be
frowned upon by every right-thinking.
patriotic newspaper man as we'll as
newspaper reader.
This country and especially North
Carolina, should be an Improbable
held FOR papers which incite contempt
for law, order and good morals. and
TO crafty a spirit of revenge attempt
TO bring dlsreSpect upon those in
whose hands the administration Of
justice has been entrusted.
The publishing business is the
greatest and most important indus
try in the world. an industry domi-
mated. as a rule. ty big. able men,
broad-mlnded men of vision, and to
their everlasting glory and credit. is
their breadth of view and tolerance in
> religion, politics and all the affairs
OF life. Newspaper men. as a rule.
: believe in fair play. While usually
they are for the under dog, still they
want to hear all sides of every ques-
ton They believe with President
Wilson, that everybody knows more
p than anybody"
$ 1t is for this reason that every fair
newspaper opens its columns to those
q who desire TO write on current mat
: tiers of interest, whether the views Of
e such contributors are in accord with
the editorial views or policy of the
editor or management or not
8 While the absolute freedom Of the
press is essential to the success Of
representative form of government
like our own country has, freedom
does not mean, however, hat an edi-
tor al print anything he chooses.
No country on earth, unless il be
France, permits a wider latitude TO
20 the press than the United States.
ar "hAh htIS ho iikithl CIlsp
N ship of news exists, 40 iron-clad rules
20 as to expression of opinion OH the
r. printed page, yet care must be had
re to keep morally clean the columns OF
is d newspaper, and also free from libel
"a Gus statements and Wilful misstate-
i mentS and misrepresentation of facts
M Attention has been called to the De
partment of Justice more than one.
"a recently that viola tons of Section 211
of of the Penal Cod which forbids. un
&C der penalty of $1,000 fine or imprison
g ment for five years, or both, for tn
in mailing Of obscene or indecent liter
allure, Indecent" within the intend
ment Of the statute being matter in
1u tended to incite arson, murder or as
sc fascination. This great government
20 does not always pay attention to mis-
CO guided editors who indulge so fool
IT. ishly as to use their columns TO incit
riot, arson and assassination. for tn
editor who so gives vent to his spleel
cd and venom is an irresponsible, lgnO
lin rant creature, often with low. near
al grovelling disposition. who is con
n demned by public opinion, which
rv more drastic punishment to a man G
any character whatever than any fin
OF that could be imposed by the court:
to Of course such papers have no stand
h ing, and have no credit among thoS
40 who love America and are loyal {
~ her interests.
raj 1t is true there is in the professio
scandalmongers and yellow Journals
,c- They are outlaws and beyond tn
m pale of decency and respect. TIL
tor remedy against them is not ADEQUATE
3e- The days Of duelling and violence, be
or cause Of spoken or written words. hay
hi long since passed and viii never agai
he prevail. To bring IN action is el
M pensive and usually ludicrous. if NJ
nd 1arclcal, ana IurtherInore the oHeh'
teS er IS usually, as aforesaid, lTTespol
its sible and is a notoriety seeker. wit
little, if any, character or financial
the moral standing. AS against thes
vii m~aligners, about the only answer is
rls. wel-formed public Opinion; and X
all seldom reply can De maze ana sci
ges respect ana dignity ana sefI-possessl
-iaI maintained in doing SO. Most new
nd naperS- like most men. are sincere