IN THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 23 July 1914, Page 4

IN THE PAST.

The newspaper in its history lias encountered many discouragements. abundant perils, and frequent prosecutions. The art of printing had not long been practised before its power in influencing public opinion amazed and terrified men. "Xoblcs." we are told, "quailed before the sarcasms penned by low-born intellect; priests dreaded its searching questions; while kings saw it in a new source of disaffection and danger." All printing presses were placed under the immediate supervision (if the l\ing-in-Council. Xotiiing was permitted to bo published without the Royal license, flood Queen licss required all books to hi' submitted to State readers for censorship. For a long time, the Stationers Company, of London were given an absolute monopoly of printing. Anyone win. ventured to transgress these laws was hanged, quartered, mutilated, exposed in the pillon. or imprisoned, according to the temper of the Judge. That "organ-voiced" seer Milton lifted up a lofty ;U id dignilied protrst against tin- chains which held dovp fret* utterance. In tlu* "Areopagitioa,'' he made [an earnest appeal ''to deliver the Press from the restraints wit.li which they were encumbered." The appeal was

noble but iui-flVrtm.l. Not long afiwrvvards, Cliicf Justioo Hcroggs, presiding over a bench of liJ .Judges, declared it to lie a criminal oll'ence to publish anything concerning the Government, whether true or false, of praise or censure, without the lioyal license. Tha London (Jazette (a small sheet appearing twice a week) was the only paper permitted to publish political news. Time moved on, and despite the most rigorous penalties, illicit printing multiplied. Prosecution followed prosecution. The celebrated Wilkes, arousing the relentless antagonism of the political powers liy the sting and severity of his political comments, was hounded from pillar to post. But the press only grew more bitter and libellous. The Letters of Junius reached a degree of defiance unknown bpfore or since. The characters of reputable men were dragged in the mire and assailed with tbe most various and malign accusations. And this while the law of the land bristled with restrictions upon free publication, plainly showing that a free Press is preferable to a gagged one.