The Libel Laws
Essay.

by Robert G. Ingersoll
(1887)

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll (Dresden Edition, 1900–1902), Volume 11.
Source: https://thegreatagnostic.com/works/the-libel-laws/
Public domain. CC0 / Public Domain Mark 1.0.

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Question. Have you any suggestions to make in regard to remodeling the
libel laws?

Answer. I believe that every article appearing in a paper should
be signed by the writer. If it is libelous, then the writer and the
publisher should both be held responsible in damages. The law on
this subject, if changed, should throw greater safeguards around the
reputation of the citizen. It does not seem to me that the papers have
any right to complain. Probably a good many suits are brought that
should not be instituted, but just think of the suits that are not
brought.

Personally I have no complaint to make, as it would be very hard to find
anything in any paper against me, but it has never occurred to me that
the press needed any greater liberty than it now enjoys.

It might be a good thing for a paper to publish each week, a list of
mistakes, if this could be done without making that edition too large.
But certainly when a false and scandalous charge has been made by
mistake or as the result of imposition, great pains should be taken to
give the retraction at once and in a way to attract attention.

I suppose the papers are liable to be imposed upon—liable to print
thousands of articles to which the attention of the editor or proprietor
was not called. Still, that is not the fault of the man whose character
is attacked. On the whole I think the papers have the advantage of the
average citizen as the law now is.

If all articles had to be signed by the writer, I am satisfied the
writer would be more careful and less liable to write anything of a
libelous nature. I am willing to admit that I have given but little
attention to the subject, probably for the reason that I have never been
a sufferer.

It would hardly do to hold only the writer responsible. Suppose a man
writes a libelous article, leaves the country, and then the article is
published; is there no remedy? A suit for libel is not much of a remedy,
I admit, but it is some. It is like the bayonet in war. Very few are
injured by bayonets, but a good many are afraid that they may be.

—The Herald, New York, October 26,1888.
