turned as a formidable enemy against a certain portion of this people. Remember the opinion of Lord Wynford, an Englishman of high culture, with much wealth and of royal blood, an editorial sire. Again, remember that principles and doctrines may be advocated, so long as there is proper respect for the government and religion. The inference is, that outside of this, there is no freedom of the press, but an abuse of the right extended to it.
Notice again that a creation of sentiment against the right of character is another abuse of its freedom and power, and that where censure, abuse, creation of strife, and the indorsement of unlawful measures begin, there the liberty of the press ends. Are all of our newspapers free from this abuse of their liberty? In the light of Lord Wynford's opinion, is any part of the press of our country responsible for the maltreatment of one people by the other, and a continued existence of prejudice? If "where vituperation begins, the liberty of the press ends," is there more vituperation than liberty exercised by a part of our press? Is the press accountable for any disregard of the law? Is it in its power to cause peace in every nook of our commonwealth? These questions, with many others that will naturally arise in one's mind, are presented for consideration.
Milton in his Areopagitica gives the true scope of the press, so far as every individual is concerned, when he said: "Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties."
The press standing as one of the great safeguards of the nation should carry out the mission which the following lines so plainly portray:
"Here shall the press the people's rights maintain,
Unawed by influence, and unbribed by gain.
Here patriot truth her glorious precepts draw,
Pledged to religion, liberty and law."
