Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-07-24
arHg MoRALs OF JoURNALIsM. .
HowARD u. JEH EEEs
EpIqon.

Among the many good things which DR.. Hol-
land has written and is writing, there can be few
more Apostle and sound than his suggestions
under the caption to this article, The morals Of
the daily press-judgiug them by the general
average, and not by special instances Of good or
bAd-sadly need renovation. 1t is too true that
the details of crime are too prominently and too
minutely set forth, andthAt all the worlds wick
edness which might be otherSise unknown with
in the confines OF the good and pure family cir
eles. is brought in by the daily journal and in
trodueed to every member
But. look YOU. there is more fault than that Of
the newspapers. There lie public demsnd for
this reading, that the newspaper fears to ignore
lest it be condemned as dull, stupid, and un-en-
terprising 1t knows that if i, fans to print these
fall reports of the last terrible crime, compet-
itor that does print shem will be demanded by
the community, in its stead For the public ia e.
ms largely to that which is horrible. mysterious
. surprising, while there is in the great major
ity of humanity an equally strong desire TO tn
10, the details of gossip if not Of scandal
Against this tendency, what shall the press do !!
We have but this answer, whicl ia:uies our
own theory and practice-that the newspaper
must exert itself to improve the taste of the
community; it must help to check the grosseI
tendencies that demand the details of badness !;
if it cannot avoid chronicling those daily occur
rencss which attract public attention, and excIe
public interest, (aud no newspaper CAM it msy,
at least dvest them them Of sttractiveuess, ard
shsw them in their real disgusting and repulsiSe
shape. Moreover, it may devote equal or greater
attention to other and better topics, which msy
serve to elevate and improve the n adsr.
Upon such plan. we try to act in these col
uuns, not always up to the best ideal, perhaps
but looking toward it and to the extent that such
course is creditsble, it should have the en-
dorsement and aid OF those who appreciate it.
By such encouragement, the morals OF the press
m " be strengthened and cleansed; without 1t,
they will not be able to improve. Whist the mar
kst demands some one will supply but the press
generally is ready and anxious TO DO its share in
moieratipg and checking both the supply and
demand for that which is vicious and poisonous.
Things continue bA lily mixed in Spain. Tie
CArlsts are showing increased strength and the
Government is not exhibiting correspondia en-
ergy. The recognition Of D "a Carlos as the lie,
gitimSte and actual tuler OF Spain. is sail to be
under discussion by the French Cabinet. Mes;
OF the members wolId take that course
il they dared preferring monarch! very de-
cdedly to Repablic but they teGr the step may
be a little premature.
Slmeron. the new President Of the Spanish
government, seems to have some vim, AMI ca
plciiy. he talks OF calling ont the 50 600 re-
serves OF the army, but whether they will come
il he edoes call and be Of any scsount il they do
come, remain TO be seen. II SAlneron puts
down the CAr'iats and al other disorgAnizsrs
s1d rebels, and maintains the Repu5hc. Sal
slal have both our praise ami thanks. Pend
ing his further Efforts, We wait the result.
Late last night, DO telegram had yet been
received Announcing the arrival Of the Penn
sgitaaid st Q1senstown. She le:i Phi!s3a'phia
On saturday the l2,h, snd vas on; eleven days
yesterday afternoon. This von't do for q pass
engsr ship.
Since the Above WAS written eAtle ies
patch. reesivea by the ceMNtRc1AL- announces.
the Ps1sasg isatias arrival # QIeeusi oNp at
midnight, making the TRIP to Tia: port trle
ever eleven days, ard a5dirg tveu'y-icur hour.
for the run TO Liverpool tie whole VOYAGE II
Twelve. Ibis is ioeiAt.e I'm. As tetset1 I
New York and Pbiladelp pLia,,he after :. st aGis-
Advantage q psaIly oae dAy.