Weekly national intelligencer., 1860-08-04
TWO THEORIES OF JOURNALISM.

INO IHEOhlES OF JOURNALISM. s.
Our young and able New York contemporary,
g The World" in some complimentary illusions to
this journal in respect to the qualify of its contents
takes exception at the same time to the theory on
which its editorial columns are conducted so far as
relates to the small amount of ssleading articles
daily served up to its readers. To this purport
that journal remarks as follows:
The Intetigsnesr has made it its chief aim to furnish
ITS readers with correct information and sound views and
has always seemed quite willing TO give these in the pro-
ductons OF others the form of editorial articles But
moderate amount of editorial has usually appeared
IN Its ample columns 1t has always published all import
ant public documents and amporant and speeches
by distinguished public of both political parties while
there were but twO and of all parties 1t has thus
never failed to supply Its readers with the materials for
forming an intelligent judgment of public affairs When
has found any thing that is pertinent present
questions and well put in contemporary Journal it has
manifested unaffected pleasure copying it, often intro
dueng with pleasant and courteous words of eemmenda
ton Never envious of its contemporaries it has always
seemed anxious that Its own readers should appreciate
their merits
With all this integrity, dignity candor considerate-
ness and generous courtesy if the Iagencer has failed
in any thing has been in the meagreness of its own dis
cussons of public 1t has presumed too much
the mental activity of its readers and the intelligent
terest they ought feel in public questions The of
wish their newspaper to think for them Their pow
es of independent thought expended their business
which engrOsses most of their me and leaves them only
snatches of leisure to glance through the columns of
newspaper The market reports prices of stocks and
other commercial intelligence perused with thought
fu view to the advantage they take of in conducting
their affairs They skim through other matters be-
tuse they do not wish TO be wholly without ideas topics
which eyerybodys tongue They do enough
about these topics to into them with any great care
They have for them except for the
ton of the day They wish to know what they ought
think OF them at cheaper rate than aborous read
ing of documents and comparison of views. Hence the
demand for leading articles, which enable the readers of
Journal to see at once what the most salient features of
the last days occurrences and to learn, without much
trouble what is thought of them by who surrender all
their time TO their study"
Without questioning at all the justice of our con-
temporarys observations In regard to the readers
for whom it is called to cater in city like New
York, we may be permitted to suggest that it has
possibly made hasty induction, from partial
view of the facts involved when it proceeds to in
fer that the rule prescribed to itself must needs be
of universal application in the field of journalism
1t may be that the mass of men in the great and
busy Commercial Metropolis " wish their news
paper to think for them," and are accustomed,
after the careful and thoughtful study of market
reports, prices of stocks, and commercial intelli-
genee, " to skim through other matters because
they do not wish to be wholly without ideas on
topics which on everybody's tongue" We can
easily understand how it is that men absorbed in
the pursuit of wealth, preoccupied by the cafes
aad dissipations of great city, should lack the
mental activity" which exeites in others more IA
yorably situated the intelligent interest every
citizen ought to feel in public questions concerning
the welfare and honor of the country We know
full well that the man of business who is onzy "
man of business" or the sated worldling who
values the newspaper merely for its chronicle of
current events does not think highly enough of i'm
portant public documents important letters"
or speeches delivered by distinguished public
men of all PARTIES" to sgo into them with any
great care" It is very natural that such people
should have ono use for these matters except for
the casual conversation Of the day - and having no
ideas of their own, it is best perhaps, all things
considered, that they should think in the words of
ytheir newspaper; and wishing, as they do to know
what they ought to think on such recondite topics,
q at some cheaper rate than laborous reading of
documents and comparison of views" they doubt
less stand in need of ''leading articles to conduct
them by-a royal road to the facile conclusions of
their editorial preceptor. We could wish that all
such persons were fortunate enough in taking their
ideas at second hand to have in all cases an in
structor so mpetsnt, reliable, and conscientious
as our New York contemporary.
Yet we think, aftsr all allowances are made for
the necessities entailed by readers of this class,
there still remains 81 more excellent way" for
such journals as are Called in considering the taste
and capacity of their patrons, to fill another sphere
and perform another fuaction. Impossible as it
NAV seem to the denzeTs of the crowded city, there
is large and respectable body of their countrymen
who are not addicted to swear in the words of auy
master, and who, having the requisite leisure and
amenta activit5" for political studies are accus-
toned to read with and intelligent interest the
"pubhc documents" and other papers known to be
essential 70 the formation of sound aud deliberate
judgments. For such the views of the editor are
rather Of secondary than of primary Importance, as
at often happens that readers of this class bring to
the subject in hand intelligence far superior to
that possessed by most of those who preside over
the columns of American journals. The opinions
of the editor should not indeed be withheld on any
public question, even though he may have furnish
ed all the materials necessary for forming an intel
Hgeht JueShen6 oI Puonc aHalrs 1or such opinions
z1bay often be instructive from the light in which
public questions differently viewed by diff
ferent minds, may at least possess that lower
interest which attaches to the community of thought
discovered by the reflection and embodiment of
similar ideas upon the same subject-matters
If these views are correct, as we think they will
be admitted to be in regard to such readers as we
have indicated, it follows, without the necessity of
formal inference, that all writing merely for the
sake of writing is mpertinent to the function of
journal which is called to furnish facts and argu-
ments to the studious and thoughtful, rather than