Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-10


scribers suffices to defray the ext enses hence
the number periodicals assd
IN tine United states + almost IN
credibly large. The most enlightened AMER
cans affribu,e the little influence of the Press 70
this excessive dissemination Of the power. -.
~ In America there Is scarcely nam
let which has not its newspaper III may DC
readily imagined that neitter aiseipilhs lioa
unity of aclion can be established .mong SO
MANY combatanfs; and each one consequently
fights under his own standard All the pom !,
ca journaisof the United States are indeed
arrayed on the side of the Administration OF
again ut, but they attack and defend m IN a
thousand different WAYS, They cannot form
those great currents of opinion which sweep
away the strongest bikes. This division q the
influence OF the Press produces other consequen-
ces scarcely less remarkable. The facility with
which n wspapers can be established prpducesa
multitude Of them, but as the competition pre-
vents any considerable profit, persons Of much
capacity are rarely led to engage IL these under
takinqs Such s the number OF uDilc prints,
that, even II they were source Oh wealth.
writers of ability could not be found te direct
them all. The journalists Of the United states
ave generally IN 8 very humble position with
scanty education and a vulgar turn OF mlnd
The will OF the majority is the most general OF
laws, and it establishes certain habits 70 whlcn
every one must then conform; the aggregate of
these common habits is what Is called the class
spirit, esprit de corps of such profession; thus
there is the class spirit Of the bar, Of
the court. etc. The class spirit of the French
journalist consist in violent, but frequently
eloquent and lofty manner of discussing the
great interests of the State, and the exceptions
10 this mode of writing are only occasional.
The characteristics of the American JournSlst
consist in an open and coarse appeal TO the pas
sions of his readers; he abandOns principles to
assaii the characters OF individuals, 10 track
them into private life and disclose all their
weaknesses and vices. Nothing can be more de-
plorable than this abuse of thought"
This was the great French writer's opinion OF
American journalism more than quarter OF a
century ago. 1t is TO be hoped that there has
been, Ia the time interviewed, somes marked inn
prUVement. But there is yet room for improve
ment, and the Press Association, properly ap-
preciated, is the great agency TO accomplish it,
ready quoted, says; physicians so despise the
patent pill or bitters practitioner, that they
make every purlieu OF their profession too hot to
hold him We shall come in time TO similar
Of journalism is thoroughly recognized, char
latanry may still abound, but there will be sum
mary discipline for the quacks."
The late DR.. Rush, of Philadelphia, was a
man of great wealth and Of many peculiarities
among which was an adherence of journalistic
literature. BY his will he devised his estate in
trust for the endowment of a public library
which is to be model of its kind. One of the
provisions of his singular viii is that no news
papers, which he termed teachers of 'disiOinted
thinking" shouldever be permitted admission
in any way into the library to be by his viii
founded and endowed Although man of rare
unfavOrable opinion of newspapers. Many men
of conservative views, tolerant and liberal, men
who are regarded as sound thinkers, are pro-
nounGed in then opposition to the continually in
creasing influence Of the Rress, and what they
designate its usurpatiOns. They entertain the
fear that it is destined to destroy all taste for
books among the people, and thus lead TO super
hciaity OF thought; thus prevent that serious re-
Election, that calm deliberation, which is abso-
lutely essential where so much of general good
depends upon the sound judgment, the mental
sobriets, ana intellectual strength OF the public
This soundness OF jddgment,Ihis mental strength
and intellectual sobriety, it is urged with great
force, must come from reading carefully written
works, and the profound study of the facts they
furnish and the lessons they teach. DR.. Rush
and those who concur with him are greatly in er-
rOr in the universal condemnation they bestOw
on the Press. The endeavOrs Of hose WAC would
overturn the newspaper press of the country, or
check its progress, will prove as futile as an at
tempt to dam up the waters of the Nile with bull
rusheS.
Awriter it ScribHer's Monthly, in Letter to
friend (ighy cqltiUdted) 3cho congratulated him
neigspdpers,J says: Newspapers are to the whole
civilized world what the daily hOuse-talk is to
the members of the household. They keep up
our daily interest in each other. They save US
from the evils of isolation. To live as members
of the great white race of men-tlre race that has
filled Europe and America, and cOlOniZed or
conquered whatever other territories il has been
pleased TO occupy-to share from day to day its
cares, ltS thoughts, lts aspirations. II Is necessary
that every man should read his daily newspaper.
Why are the French peasants so bewildered and
at sea, so out of place in the modern world? 1t
is because they never read newspaper. And
why are the inhabitants OF the Lnited States,
though scattered over territory fourteen times
the area OF France. so much more capable of
concerted political action, 50 much more alive
and modern, so much more lntereesssSd IN new
GlsSoEe!ies OF all kinds, capable Of selecting and
utilizing the Dest " them? 1t is because the
newspaper penetrates everywhere, AMI even the
lonely dwelling on the prairie or in
the forest is not intellectually isolated
from the great currents of public life which flow
through the telegraph and the Press. = x y
. If you should transfer the amount of
your reading day by day from the newspaper 10
the standard authOrs?' To this suggestion of
EmersOn's, it may be answered that the loss
would be greater than the gain. The writers of
Queen Anne's time could educate an English
man of Queen Anle's time, but can only partial
ly educate an Englishman of Queen TfctOrias
time. The mind is like merchants ledger; it
requires to be continually posted up to the latest
date. Even the last telegram may have upset
some venerable theory that has been received as
infalliole for ages"
The newspaper has become as necessary to the
intellectual life of the reading population of tne
Union, as daily food is to the lie of the body.
Instead of crusading against the entire newspa-
per Press, the opponents Of "disjOinUed think
ing" should combine their weli-meanU efforts to a
discriminating assault on the vicious portion
thereof. By so doing, disreputable, sensational
sheets will be tabooed, just as are corrupt vol
umes, whose object is the dissemination of IN
wholesome as well as tdisiointed thoughts"
May not the Press Association Of Tennessee
give encouragement and assistance in this cru
SADIE against Objectionable newspapers If not
by war, open war, then by e close study and
rigid practice of the principles which it is the
purpose of this Association TO teach; by practi-
cling courtesy and dignity which will ahash
these predatory pretenders to journalism; by
cuitivadng an eleVatedt tone of thought and OF
expression, which these editorial 'shysters" can
never reach or emulate. The power to enforce
well as to decree is ours, il we will but prac-
tice what we preach. A well conducted Press
is the great educator of the people, mentally and
morally. 1t is the certain CONSERVATION Of popular
and governmental order. And it needs no le-
gal Censorship TO make sure that the press is
well conducted. The remedy is in our own
hands as individual members of the Press en-
couTaged and aided by such Associations as this
which now L address. Wherever there is personal
hostility among members Of the same fraternity,
there win be dIssensions and descriptions, and a
consequent lack OF progress and prosperity.
Whenever, from envy, hatred or malice, from
differences of opinion, or from disagreement be-
tween the business managers of different papers,
the personal character OF member of the Press
is aSsailed, there will and ought to be personal
hostility. The man. in or out OF the press circle,
who submits to personal denunciatiOn, and then,
without retTactiOn, explanation or apology clasps
the hand of his denunciatOr with friendly grasp,
is devoid Of self-respect, and being so, cannot
long retain the respect OF his fellow-men.
We have heard much Ssfld of late about schools
Of journalism. There has been as vet no suf-
fcient test of any experiment for us to obtain
any light from the lamp of experience. After
having received thorough education in the
branches generally taught in our schools, that
there are certain further studies better calcu-
lated than Others aye, necessary, to fit for sue
cesstul career him who intends to make Jour
nalism the business OF his lie, canii0t doubt.
But it is not my purpose now to enter upon a
discussion of the necessity or pTOpriety of estab-
fishing schools Of journalism. Ii attempted,
the journalistic world, at least, will be benefited
by knowledge gained from experience, whether
the attempt tail or be successful. My duty to-
night is not to speak for the future, but to and
for the Tennessee Press of to-day that the living
present may be improved, THAI we
departing" may leave behind Us
Footprints on the sands of time"
Therefore, without eXpatiating upon schools of
journalism, il is our dnty to our profe ssiOn and
to ourselves, that we do not encourage the igno-
rant nor the willful to enter upon duties on the
faithful intelligent and honest discharge of
which depends the happiness of mankind.
Encourage 70 one TO enter the fed of
journalism unless be feels that lie has an
sire TO become eminent therein If he enters
upon its labors merely as a means of gaining
temporarily, livelihood, he will never do honor
to the profession. If he desire position on the
editorial staff only that be may become a dead
head, be Will soon become a dead-beat. If he SEEK
solely, his own political preterment, ne cannot
serve the public, nor, very long, himself | do
Office, nor ever be candidate. Upon the con-
trary, think an editor would gain very profita-
bic experience by being candidate every few
years, especially a political editor. He would
learn a little more of human nature than if he
constantly, exclusively, devoted himself to his