PUBLIC MEN.

Inangahua Times, Volume III, Issue 66, 19 January 1877, Page 2

PUBLIC MEN.

Sir William Statrell generally bite the right nail on the head («*y the Melbourne Punch), and he did so the other day in summing up the libel action firoadbent r« Small, when the Chief Justice it reported to have said that " public men and public measures were public property, and it was the privilege of the public to discuss these men and those measures, as it was tensed, without actual malice. This was a pririlege which tEey must all cherish. No doubt these criticisms were occasionally notplesant. Courts of justice ctme in occasionally for attack or censdre— whe» ther justly or unjustly it was net tweessary for him to say. Judges wen cen« sured, and even learned oounsel did not escape. Perhaps when those attacks were first read in the morning, they were sot very agreeable. If they were deserved, why they mast be borne » i! they were undeserved, they could do no barm* and they probably served to amuse som* people. (Jnless public criticism , was allowed on public men and public measures* the community would lapse into a condition which would be irksome to the pub* lie generally. If discussions were not allowed, why the community would be is a state of perfect slavery," This is th» language of common sense and sage ex* perience. And none but fools and knaves^ stand in dread of honest critidgm, of just censure, and of fearless satire.