Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-04-17

tlons and inslruelionsl IL holds
the conscience oflho nation, IL eau
originate or arrest q revolution.
Hardly II less solemn function
perhaps fully as influentlal-is that
Of the Press, The Press speaks mol
on one day in seven, but daily. II
addresses q larger audicnce-thinl
of the great Now York or London
dailics being read every morning by
fifty and n hundred thousand read
ersl II penetrates where tho voice
of tho preacher cannot reach. II
commands the attention oflhousands
who never darkon tho door of q
church. II visits tho household oI
tho wealthy alderman, and the hove|
of the lowly artisan. The world Is
reflected by il as from q mirror to
tho entire community every morn.
ing. 1t selects its topics at will
handles them in such sort as may
please its fancy-prcachcs, discus
ses, praises, blames, criticiscs, ridi-
culcs, attacks, defends, with the ut
most freedom. 1t utters what truth
may suit il; places it in focus OF
light, or obscures il so that il may
not be received distorts il, or illus
trates it, so that any particular i'm
preston may be made. There arc
paragraphs to suit every taste-sc-
rious disquisitions for tho thought
ful-useful knowledge for the prac.
tical-politcs, science, religion, lit
erature, art, agriculture, statistics
news from China to Utah-ancc-
dotcs, aphorisms, accidents, recipes,
fashions, ,jests, poetry-auction sales,
wants, and advertisements on every
conceivable subject. What an en-
gine for good or evil The preach
er in the newspaper has no drowsy
hcarcrs-at least mover sees them.
No one can interrupt him-and if
there is not the electric charm OF
articuate speech, there is the mys-
terious authority and power ofprint.
The passion for news compels the at
tention of the community. If its
opportunity is so great-what must
be its responsibility The clergy
are wont to give expression to their
sense of tho terrible responsibility
which rests upon them-and they
pray for guidance. Do we Of the
Press recognize what ,ce assume in
undertaking to become the secular
teachers of the public? Our thea
tire is a wider one than that Of the
Pulpit In the past generation
political speakers covered much OF
the ground which is now occupied
by us. But their day is past. The
road to political power is now
through the press, not through tho
bar.
We educate the people to believe
q truth or to believe lie. We form
the social and political faith of the
nation-and influence their opinions
on religion, morals, literature, and
practical life. We are the real rulers.
We make tho laws. We elect the
administrators of the government.
We hold the government to our
opinions. We make war. We make
revolutions. We enforce peace. We
march the armies. We make or un-
mako victories. We give or destroy
regulations. We pull down and set
up monarchies and republics. We
organize or rend asunder the ties of
society. We regulate public man
ners. We shape, if it so pleases us,
the church itself, and give form and
color to the popular religion.
There can be no graver vocation
than this. If a man feels (and we
know such things) that he is sconn-
drel, he has no business in the edi-
torial chair. Firstly, if he does not
love above all things, the truth-tho
office of a public teacher should not
be his. And, secondly, to teach
others the editor must primarily be-
lieve himself. The editor without
Faith is mere trifer-a persifeur
AN impcrtinence. He should have
deliberate, firm, earnest convictions
and these imply knowledge and
reflection.
Just think then what we must, or
on1ht to, bel Ifa man has knowl-
edge (and who has IT'D; if he has
reflected (and who has p if he has
a heart, and therefore belieUes; if his
nature revolts from lie, as poets
taste from a false figure, or an mex
act word such an one would make
theideal editor-provided, ofcourse,
he had the faculty of communiea-
ting his thoughts.
The ideal editor may be associa-
ted with a party, but he is the slave
of no mastcr. Independence is cs-
sential to the declaration of truth,
and no party has all the truth or is
free from error. Cdndor is one CT
the prime virtues, and is imperative
IL demanded in. the deliberate ut
terances Of print. There are weak
points In all human crecds-a yul-
nerable heel in every party. Men
must attach themselves TO parties
not to find a perfect faith, but the
best that is available. 1t is the pre-
pOnderance ofevidcnce that must de-
eide. The Episcopslians, the BaP-
fists, the Presbyterians, the Metbo-
1-. - -. = thrsr ~rrurr