Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-12-03
vol. 40: NO As.
THE ERRORS OF MODERN JOUR-
RALISM.

more direct and intimate relation TO its read
ers than the daily or weekly newspaper. Ii
is constant aud a welcome guest, consulted
as teacher and trusted as a friend.
While the high claims advanced BY edi-
tors may not be universally acknowledged;
though many may deny that it is the leader
as well as the recorder Of thoughts and
deeds, yet all must admit that it has POW.
erful influence throughout the civilized
world. BY it, the occurrences in all parts
Of the world are noted; The proceedings of
small sections are proclaimed throughout
the world; nations are brought into sympa-
thy with nations; mankind are united in one
| common brotherhood; thought is quicken
ca, ACTIVITY promoted, and the labors Of one
made subservient to the good Of all.
But great as is its power for good, it is
equally powerful for evil; insidious teachings
may be spread abroad throughout the
world, and gain admittance to places which
they could never otherwise reach.
| None can have failed TO notice the mum
Der of papers whose contents are of the
worst character, destructive to the minds
and morals of those who read them. Of
large size and filed with expensive engra-
cravings, their cost must be very great,
while being Independent of advertising pat
ronage and dependant entirely upon their
subscriptions for support, the fact of their
continuance proves that they must have
very extensive circulation. The existence
OF these papers seems to have been ignored
by those interested In the public welfare,
under the supposition, doubtless, that to
bring them more prominently into notice
would only increase their influence. Even
should such be the case, it may be well 10
inquire whether the fact that these sheets
are so extensively read does not indicate
condition Of the public mind which demands
renewed zeal in those devoted to the moral
Improvement of their fellows, and an in
creased determination to labor.
a sadder evidence Of diseased state of
the public mind is afforded by the fact of
the full reports Of improprieties and crime
given in respectable journals, and especially
in the list of papers claiming to be organs
Of the working classes.
The claims of the superiority of American
to European workmen need to be carefully
considered if it be true that attendance upon
mechanics institutes and the reading of
moral and instructive papers is replaced By
attendance upon police courts and the eager
| perusal Of criminal news As friends of
workingmen we deny that their tastes are
altogether on the side of vice. We know
| too well how many attending evening schools,
listen to instructive lectures and select i'm
proved books; and we believe that any pa
/ per which really wishes to become an organ
of the laboring classes should contain only
articles adapted to the improvement of its
readers and encouragement for them to bet
ter their condition.
Sensational articles we believe TO be the
result Of yielding to the demand of the
public; but if the press has the power that
it claims, it ought certainly to strive to check
rather than submit to the feeling Not only
are accidents described in glowing language,
and proceedings which should not be made
public described to the minutest details, but
the most trifing occurrences are magnihed
to subjects of the greatest importance. Sim
pie terms and mild adiectiyes no longer sat
| isfy, but the most extravagant words are
deemed necessary to express the simplest
ideas. As a mere fault in the use of Ian
guage this tendency should be condemned,
but we cannot but believe that this course
will have a more pernicious tendency
When words are no longer understood in
their proper significance, when articles are
| not believed to mean what they express,
must there not be weakening Of that re-
gard for the absolute truth Of what we say
which will eventually undermine if not de-
stroy that sense Of honor which is expressed
in keeping our word But there is a worse
danger to be dreaded, and that is in the be-
lief, which amounts almost to certainty, that
! the rage for sensationalism leads many to
delight in the recital of suffering, and may
even lead to the desire for accidents to hap
pen or even to determination to cause
them.
1t may not be thought well to pass from
these important faults of modern journal
ism to speak of faults in mere propriety of
language, but believing this fault to lead to
greater ones, we desire to call attention to
the increasing use Of slang terms and for
eign phrases. Purity of language is an evi7
dence not only of sound mine and good
education, but, to great extent, of moral
uprightness. The use Of Yulgrr terms must
lead to vulgar thoughts, and the employ
meDt Of slang phrases is too often an indi
cation of familiarity With a low class Uf soei
ETY.. Whatever justification may be render
ed for the substitution of foreign words and
phrases fer equally expressive English
equivalents, the practice is one TO be con
demned and not encouraged. There is some
excuse for the use of foreign words by per-
sen Just commencing the study Of foreign
language, but those who profess to be famil
lar with that and their own should certainly
be able TO translate the expressions they
may meet in the course of their reading. 1t
cannot certainly be SAID that the use Of fer
eign expressions increases the number Of
those who can understand what is written,
while the foolish mistakes continually made
either by the writer or the printer ought
certainly to lead to the avoidance of this
course
It's unnecessary here to speak Of gram
matical mistakes, which are far too common,
but we must close with the expression ofthe
wish that greater attention to literary execu
ton and an increased zeal for the preserya-
: ton of the purity Of our language may char
acterize all writers for the press. The news
parer has just passed its infancy, andis te-
ing educated for its work; there is before il
future of power and glory greater than il
| 4 z, ~ Asa,a-s..or,,