large/7264/free_press_1206_librivox_64kb_mp3/freepress_12_belloc_64kb_29
large/7264/free_press_1206_librivox_64kb_mp3/freepress_12_belloc_64kb
English
7264
When the judge lends himself to the politicians we all know what follows. The instrument used is that of an accusation of libel, and, in cases where it is desired to establish terror, of criminal libel. WHEN THE JUDGE LENDS HIMSELF TO THE POLITICIANS WE ALL KNOW WHAT FOLLOWS THE INSTRUMENT USED IS THAT OF AN ACCUSATION OF LIBEL AND IN CASES WHERE IT IS DESIRED TO ESTABLISH TERROR OF CRIMINAL LIBEL
rosecute. But that is only a negative evil. More serious is the positive side of the affair: that you may conversely be put at the _risk_ of any penalty if they desire to put you at that risk; for the modern secret police being ubiquitous and privileged, their opponent can be decoyed into peril at the will of those who govern, even where the politicians dare not prosecute him for exposing corruption. Once the citizen has been put at this peril--that is, brought into court before the lawyers--whether it shall lead to his actual ruin or no is again in the hands of members of the legal guild; the judge _may_ (it has happened), withstand the politicians (by whom he was made, to whom he often belongs, and upon whom his general position to-day depends). He _may_ stand out, or--as nearly always now--he will identify himself with the political system and act as its mouthpiece. It is the prevalence of this last attitude which so powerfully affects the position of the Free Press in this country.  AMONG THE LAWYERS REFUSE TO PROSECUTE BUT THAT IS ONLY A NEGATIVE EVIL MORE SERIOUS IS THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE AFFAIR THAT YOU MAY CONVERSELY BE PUT AT THE RISK OF ANY PENALTY IF THEY DESIRE TO PUT YOU AT THAT RISK FOR THE MODERN SECRET POLICE BEING UBIQUITOUS AND PRIVILEGED THEIR OPPONENT CAN BE DECOYED INTO PERIL AT THE WILL OF THOSE WHO GOVERN EVEN WHERE THE POLITICIANS DARE NOT PROSECUTE HIM FOR EXPOSING CORRUPTION ONCE THE CITIZEN HAS BEEN PUT AT THIS PERIL THAT IS BROUGHT INTO COURT BEFORE THE LAWYERS WHETHER IT SHALL LEAD TO HIS ACTUAL RUIN OR NO IS AGAIN IN THE HANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL GUILD THE JUDGE MAY IT HAS HAPPENED WITHSTAND THE POLITICIANS BY WHOM HE WAS MADE TO WHOM HE OFTEN BELONGS AND UPON WHOM HIS GENERAL POSITION TO DAY DEPENDS HE MAY STAND OUT OR AS NEARLY ALWAYS NOW HE WILL IDENTIFY HIMSELF WITH THE POLITICAL SYSTEM AND ACT AS ITS MOUTHPIECE IT IS THE PREVALENCE OF THIS LAST ATTITUDE WHICH SO POWERFULLY AFFECTS THE POSITION OF THE FREE PRESS IN THIS COUNTRY
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