Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1880 — Libel and Its Legal Remedy. [ARTICLE]

Libel and Its Legal Remedy.

The only really efficient examination of the character pf„c*n didates for office is -made by the press, and the most powerful check, though not by any means the only one, in official nucoonduct is the inquisitiveness and railing of the newspapers. This is perhaps aotan admirable system of inspection, much less an ideal one, but it is the only one-as ret devised: and it' may be sai<^thMWLthout hardly be possible in >ur time. Mewspa-1 pen, however, could not, or would not,<cto this work If kept under close j.lqggl jk&, train t. As a mutter offset, they are vin. toally exempt by Ttw or opinion frwn all oheck In the matter of criticism of official persons. The publio virtually says to them, “Bsy everything that earnest into your hendnabout men in office; some of it at will probably be true, and our interest will be served by having t*ty trail come out In any iihajpo.” * ... Mr. Ha uerton, the well-known author snd'Pajat kni recent aum>to a?

too much honor; . bat joa might pt rhape, challenge one of the highly respectable gentlemen who keep the paper agoing with their money, and pay the editor Vp do their dirty work. Yon might be able to get at ooe of them, I dare «ay, if it were agreeable to you. 1 * •Mr Hamerton thereupon observed that '‘dueling waa not numb in hia line," and that “Englishmen did not generally fight duels.” “This,” he adds, “waa frank bat imprudent." The lawyer looked at me aemenaly and sadly. A gentleman who not strongly disposed to fight a deal coaid ecadbely, 1 perceived, expect to mairftain a very high place in his esteem. After a while ne recovered from the shook, end said, ‘ Well, nobody expects you to fight, with that, nasally editor, at Continent the lan! 'immunity believed to be etfJofWby me newspapers in this country excites surprise so great? tint a distinguished Wench publicist has described the. American press aa “desESiTbSaHSS & -yiw;'-." MIIOI Demg yum nie only real remedy again*. Ufceltanjegred hy the American citixen lies in the murder of editors. He rt<lafM,7h illustration Of this, that it ia not uncommon! -for American newspaper ofdees to have a memorial marble plate over the door,inscribed With the namts of the editors who have fallen in fight under the weapons of persona wham, they have slandered, together with the date of each tragedy—December Atlantic. •>> ■ ■ *