The Portland daily press., 1873-04-21
The Pulpit Oh Journalism.

The sermon of Rev. Mr.. Hincks Of State
Street Church, on ''The Press,' which we
publish on our first page, is very fair and in
telligent statement of the powers and oppor-
tunities for good and evil which the profess
sion of journalism affords and the faults which
are observable to a greater or less extent in
all papers, and which no one sees so clearly
and deplores so keenly as the conscientious
Journalist. 1t must be borne in mind, howev-
or, while reading the sermon, that the preach
er is seeking to depict an ideal newspaper
precisely as he seeks to present to his hearers
an ideal course of life, not with an expecta-
ton that any ore of them will actuaily al'aii
It, but with the purpose of fixing hign s'al'o-
ard, the pursuit of which shall lead them To-
ward that excellence which cannot be apso-
lutely achieved. Thus some OF the ia'a's o'
the press Denoted in this sermon are offences
perhans against the ideal, but ale inseparabiy
connected with the real and will never be ful-
" cured until we can publish millennial Jour-
nails for millennial readers. A large newspa
per is of so extended connections, and draws
its material from so many minds and so many
sources Of information, that, however sincere
and honest may be the purpose of its head to
present nothing but what is truthful, and t,
advocate nothing whose influence direct or
indirect shall be bad. occasional lapses mu
necessarily occur; and it is quite too common
form Of injustice for the critical reader to
seize upon isolated instances Of this kind as a
basis of slashing denunciations of the man.
agement of paper, without duly considering
Its general good character and tone in mitiga-
ton of his structures.
As to the power of the press, a very moder-
ate and reasonable statement is given. The
constant presentation of facts and the fire.
quent repetition Of arguments on any ques-
ton to men in a journal which they like-and
men generally feel sort of personal friendli-
ness for their favorite journals-must have a
very powerful influence on their opinions.
The indirect influence is much greater than
the direct, for people dislike to feel themselves
consciously led or influenced, and yet the di-
rect influence is very considerable. How
common it is for people to inquire what ''the
papers say'' on all subjects of general interest,
and how easy it is to adopt an opinion whose
basis and supporting arguments are supplied
ready made. Mr.. Hinck's example of the
slight effect of the tribune in leading people
astray last summer, will seem of less value to
him when he considers how promptly and eff
cientlyjournals of equally high character, all
over the country, disclosed the motives of the
Tribune's apostasy and the fallacy of the
statements and arguments by which it sought
to justify its action. Had there been no jour.
mails opposed to it, or, more strongly, had they
joined it in its mad attempt, the result would
quite possibly have been reversed.
The newspapers must accept large respon-
sibflity for public opinion and action; re-
sponsihility which the journalist who appre-
ciates it views with full sense of his own hui
man fallibility: but we believe that all
respectable members of the profession try as
eonscientiously to do right, as members of
the clerical or any other profession.
That they are glad to have faults pointed
out and improvements suggested is shown by
the general good temper and klndliness in
which they receive Criticisms upon their ac-
ton. The temperate and logical structures
of Mr.. Hincks, and even the Incorporate
and violent denuncation, in what DR.. Car
ruthers, with fine sarcasm, calls a "5evo-
tionaP' meetings are treated with respectful
consideration-the only sharp response evok-
ed being in the case of one who, in ostensibly
defending Journalism, charged it with venali-
ty. OF course in this case it became neces-
sary to show the character of the source
from which the inuendo proceeded.
The vast improvement in character for the
past thirty years, so well stated by Mr..
Hincks, gives good assurance that the high
standard which those having pride in their
profession place for themselves, is near attain
ment. If we fail to fully reach the ideal, We
at least have the advantage of a sincere and
honest attempt for excellence.