Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-02-01
THE FUNCTION OF THF PRESS

IhE ElNCIION OE The PRESS.
Our country Is prolific in producing
newspapers They spring up with
wonderful rapidity, and represent
every shade Of thought. Every idea
which gets into any organized form
must have an organ. And to make
money, papers are printed as well Is
to advocate opinions and combat here
sizes. Perhaps the number Of this
last class exceed all the rest. Out OF
All the public journals in the land,
how many are conducted upon 2 liked
principle and for distinct benefieent
puTpOses2 How many religious Jour
mails are Cramped by seetariar feel
ings? How many political journals
are warped by partisan Influences
from the right hRe2 As papers are
made by men they have the fOibles,
errors, follies and prejudiees of men
in them. - -----.
The true function OF the press is =
mixed one. The we'll conducted Jour
nal should convey intelligence and
impart instruction. ll
IL should be q news paper, and a
teacher and preacher. In the first
department Of work the American
newspaper is the best in the world,
that is, the best American, papers are.
They use all the Ruxiliaries that mod
ern science has furnished for obtain
ing, and transmitting fnfeligenee.
And the changes IN this class OF work
have been marvellous during the last
twenty years. Photography has be-
come a common art 70 take the speak
er at his word. The telegraph trans
mits them as fast as spoken. from one
end OF the world TO the other. The
railroad brings remote points into
neighbOrhOOd. How wide the field
that the editor surveysi How mani
fold his work in collecting aud pre-
senting news. He is like the caterer
for some grand banquet; he ransaeks
the world for his feast; he brings the
uttermOst parts OF the earth 10 his
guests. They want to eat the whole
bill Of fare. He must set them q va
ried table or they VIII 60 away with
disgust. Some crave solid meats;
some like the daily bread which is
their staff Of life; some have Q. pas
sion for relishes and condiments. To
meet taste so varied and 50 exscting
I requires Judgment, tact, patience and
/ constant work y genuine newspaper
can no more be thrown together, than
Ia piece OF tapestry can. To be sure
many papers are so carelessly made,
| but they pass for bOtehes, as they are.
/ To furnish news is one OF the first
/ things in all papers. Few rest con-
/ tent with that Few fail to attempt
I to instruct and influence the people
whom they reach If the other work
[ demands patience and labor, this re-
quires acuteness. Independence, yigOr
and conscientious fidelity. 1t IS the
duty of an editor to critieise, t0warn,
TO set forth sound principles; but not
to abuse, malign or advocate perni-
eiOus doctrine. His duty demands
intelligence good sense and sincere
Independence. There must be the
hrst to detect the secret springs Of
. mems acts the second for deliberate
and judieiOus Judgment; the third
for security against mercenary infiu-
ence and selfish impulses. How diff
cult for the party discipline, and run
counter to the policy of the party II
it is manifestly wrong. How difficult
for the party paper to oppose regular
nominations, when they ought to be
condemned without stint. How difii-
cult for the party paper to attack the
l4EA " NUN III w II EAAA a--lHN 80
into Office, when they are unfit and
unworthy. Yet no paper which Is
true to its great function, can refuse
70 do all these things when the exi-
gency comes, as It must sometimes.
The duty OF the Press is to the whole
community rather than the party, or
clique or sect. The safety Of the peo-
pie Is the supreme law. The public
D =
which does not recognize this princi-
pie, which is not Controlled by il,
which does not serve the whole CON-
munity, spuFning every seduction and
/ menace to become the mercenary in
strument Of the whole people, is not
true to its high function and the noble
service Of public journal. There
ought to be rational moderation in
the discharge Of these duties. They
J require intrepidity, eoOlness, eandOl
and forbearance. . ..-.
The aim Of the editor will control
his action. If it be elevated, worthy
and excellent, he will resist personal
temptation. He will not become the
, tool of a clique. He will not use his
T paper as a hydrant to discharge his
: bin at his neighbors and his personal
: 4 enemies. He will not sell his public
, voice TO the highest bidder; he will
, not place party above the whole body
Of the people; he will not become in
/ temperate in criticism he will be
fearless but strive to be just; he will
! be OutspOken and not wait for public
sentiment to form before he finds his
speech. He viii take the principle
Of Justice TO all men and the doctrine
, Of the greatest good 70 the greatest
number as his guiding principles and
/ in their light will interpret the ques-
tiOns that rise for discussion. And
the man who does this faithfully and
: discreetly is doing men a service that
is not to be computed. The preacher
in the pulpit is not to be compared
J with him in influence and OppOrtuni-
ty for accomplishing good results. He
can help keep politics clean help
make society better and happier, and
, can sustain the church in its benefi-
cent mission.--Cb Cb05ttGWqW9 DsmOcr0E