Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-11-09
arguing that a newspaper should be
allowad m refer 70 a white man as q

arguing that a newspaper should be
allowed to refer to white man as
negro or anything Of that kind. we
are not to be understood as arguing
that a newspaper should be allowed tc
treat any respectable man disrespect-
fully or anything Of that kind. Neither
do we hold that the mere claim ol
inadvertance should be held as suffi-
cient excuse for such an offense. fol
we do not claim anything Of the kind.
If it had been shown that Mr.. Foster
had actually been damaged by this er'
ror, we think he should have been en-
titled to such actual damage, and we
take it that the jury did not think any
real damage had been inflicted, else II
would have given the defendant sucr
award as may have been due him
OF course the defendant had right
to feel angered at being held out as
negro; but since the error occurred
in a community where all parties
were we'll known, and where every
body who was concerned knew that II
was an error, we cannot see how any
real damage could have resulted.
Although never threatened with g
damage suit along that line, The En-.
auirer has had it's experiences. 1t IL
the rule and a very proper rule
throughout the south when negro Is
the subject of a newspaper paragraph
I'D; 90 11xyf
little trouble about the matter; but
sometimes it is difficult to get the in
formation correctly. Some years age
some friends gave information of the
destruction of house by fire and the
reporter understood them to say tina,
the house belonged to colored man
The reporter thought he was acquaint-
ed with all the white men by tina,
name in the community; but he die
not pretend to know the names OF al
the colored men. So he printed the
information as he had understood It
and very shortly the white owner OF
the house came to see about q cor.
rection. 1t is fair to say, however
that this white man took the error
reasonably and sensibly, without com.
plaint. He did not even demand
correction: but Of course the correc'
llOn was lfdue liC NSty hSNt 40
sue Of the paper.
We are not to be understood as sug'
gesting or claiming that newspapers
are not to be held responsible fol
their errors, or that they should be al
lowed to defame innocent, upright
people with impunity. We have M
such notion. On the contrary, We
recognize that the responsibility o.
the newspaper man is very great. Un'
der no circumstances Is he entitled tt
indulge in petty spite or malice ever
against those who may be trying tt
injure him. But very often 1t become!
his duty to the public service to print
disagreeable facts about people, ant
when such duty arises. he must NEE
it. He may run the risk of libe
suit; but even that does not relieve
him Of his duty or responsibility.
Referring back to the case Of tn,
Spartanburg Journal, we will remark
that if that paper had Intentional!
referred to that plaintiff as a negro
knowing that he was a white man
and the fact could have been proved
it would have been legally and justly
liable for damages But where th'
reference is purely accidental, as wa!
so clearly shown in this case, ant
where there was no actual damage, a!
was the case here, the verdict Of the
jury in favor Of the defendant wa:
just and proper.