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Tomahawk (1867-1870), 17th July 1869, Edition 1 of 1, Page unpag, The publication of the correspondence re...

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    • PERSONALITIES— .A PROTEST.
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      The Tomahawk. A. Saturday Journal Of Sat...

      THE TOMAHAWK . A . SATURDAY JOURNAL OF SATIRE . j OEXiiteli by Qxttfux h'l & eckett . " INVITAT CULPAM QUI PECCATUM PRETERIT . "

      No. 115.] * London, July 17, 1869. [Pric...

      No . 115 . ] * LONDON , JULY 17 , 1869 . [ Price Twopence .

      Personalities— .A Protest.

      PERSONALITIES— . A PROTEST .

      The Publication Of The Correspondence Re...

      The publication of the correspondence relating to the fracas between Mr . Grehville Murray and Lord Carington has drawn public attention to the question of how far a writer may legitimatel quasi- y public go in character attacking . the As personal there seems character to be of a very any unwhole public or - may some be tone well prevalent to endeavour in the to mind get at of the the ri public ghts of on the this question subject . , it The influence of the Press is doubtless very great in social as written of well society as in one , political of inasmuch which matters we as hear . it is It much is based true , that is more the the powerful " unwritten most unintelli than code any " - or gible justice caprice ; , it , admits and rests too upon of so ma princi ny exc p upon ep le tions of morality that it can , or hardl truth y , very be said unequall to have y emp any loy rules edthe , while rank and machinery wealth of for the punishing offender is being much more considered , than the rankness or degree of his offence appeal . except Against again the to sentences itself ; an of appeal this secret which tribunal must there be backed is no is by received a good legacy or sifted , or before by the th succession e judges , to except some that title . of No their evidence own senseson which it is impossible always to rely . The Press nearl furnishes y , always a social obtain court a fair of hearing justice , , in and which it is the very accused important can that the code of morals which governs the writers for the Press and should the be purest based morality upon considerations , without any of rega strict rd justice to the and influence truth , of rank or wealth . No one has ventured to dispute the right and duty of the Press to deal with the public life of men ; the utmost freedom pe of rmitted speech , to we writers may al when most dealing say , the with widest the political license of conduct abuse , of is any man . The reckless imputation of motives ; the putting utter e s forwa ensitiveness nough disr rd to of egard poss surmises that e ss any the ar as e object del p facts ra ic cticall at , of e se the y nse all su attack sp owed of icions honour may to political , be " of evide unfortunate any nce writers tender ; the . is It may conside be red this as liberty a , compensation conceded to the for pen the with restrictions regard to imposed politics health upon it y in sig deali n that ng men with are social to be topics found . We now regard who are it not as a afraid very abuse to speak because out th it eir is m countenanced inds in print or , and cherished who do by those ot sp in are hig an h rank , nor an offender against the laws of morality because he happens to sit in high places .

      The only power that can keep nine out of ten men or women can from break wrong the is laws the power of God and public man without inion . incurring As long the as they censure or the scorn of their fellow creatures , they will continue to in openl that do its so the y proportion expressed wi censure thout the s . and , however There sli scorn ghtest is generall should hardl scrup y be y le practised imp ; and evil lied , it or , however which is felt not , it cannot sufficient g must igantic be be to done away that with the Press by the is force at once of public the opinion and . the It is director needless of public say opinion . It appears to us that organ any one who undertakes to write for the Press undertakes a responsibility most grave , a duty most solemn , which cannot be lightly evaded . To tamper where with evil he ; to ht coquette to rebuke with seriousl vice ; to speak forcibl lightl y ; to pander languidl to y , the iniquitous oug dissipations of society y j to pass over in silence , or , which worse still he knows , to encourage in his conscience habits of to action be utt , erl speech y bad , , or simp thoug ly be - in cause short they to are be - a admired half-hearted by the defender great , the of good noble , , or and assailant the rich of ; evilis to , commit a sin against God , and an offence against man for which he will one day have to answer with bitter remorse , . This is the real reason why it is better on the whole that writers for the Press should be anonymous , because it is ad ness impossible / lo if minem he is for to which any be perpetuall man the to enforced write y confronted with signature sufficient with of vigour the his na rgwnen me and to bold tum all - he writes necessaril , y provokes . In attacking wrong and defending right , one ' s pen must not be fettered with a sense of one ' s own preach faults ; , we we onl do y not express arrogate our earnest to ourselves desire to the possess virtues them that . we say this If , im ho every munity wever offe injurious nder from against personal his vic morality attacks es may is ; b if e to to he shelter a is portion to himself be of allowed the behind com to - munity , that the Press has no right to touch upon his private don charact e to e the r , then general we morality do not scrup of the le nation to say . To a one great in hi inj gh ury positio will be n and sufficiently wealthy to be independent of the public , how- ^ ever heinous may be his misdeeds , some sort of society is always hi ope m n with ; he will n have arms no if he diffic be u a lord in ; and ndin it g is pers onl on y thro to ugh rece the ive public Press ope that he , can be made to feel what disgust and contempt his conduct excites in the minds of all decent people * And this apparent condonation of vice , though it proceed only from the most servile and meanest of mankind , encourages others to abandon themselves shamelessly to profligacy , having

  • Citation
    • Tomahawk (1867-1870), July 17, 1869, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/t/issues/ttw_17071869/page/3/