Sunbury American

The bill introduced in the State Senate in favor of granting the press more liberty, is just in itself, as it recognizes the press in a manner somewhat gratifying. Such a law as is proposed will prevent speculative or malicious prosecutions, and will not prevent the easy recovery of damages where a real libel is published. No principle maintained in the present libel law is put aside in this, but the privilege of showing the truth of statements made, and of the absence of malice, is clearly given in this proposed law.

The time has come when the press deserves some consideration in this business. It not unfrequently happens that parties engage in libel suits, with no other purpose than to get money,—a sort of character speculation, or levying of blackmail. We are confident in the belief that in this State there is far less purpose on the part of the press to willingly libel any person than there is on the part of persons to catch at anything that may be said in the papers as a cause for a suit for libel.