The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-09-05
The Field of Journalism.
[Feom Charles Francis Adams address at Harva
ColleRe.l

When I compare the state of the
newspaper press as it is now with what
| it was at the commencement of the fed
eral government, it seems to me that of
all the changes that have taken place in
our social system, this is the most
striking. Then a semi-weekly, or pos
sibly daily, Journal. in the largest
towns, was conducted for the most part
by a laboring printer, who confined
himself to the task of filing his sheet
lied for the treatment of topics of mo-
mentary interest upon such voluntary
contributions as could be secured from
promising young men, amply paid by
seeing their productions in print Now
and then heavier pen would endeavor
to enlighten the community on a
grave and important subject. But the
circle of readers would be at best very
limited, unless in few cases where
republication might be thought an OBJ
ject in the few large towns 1t was in
that way that Hamilton and Madison
and Jay labored and succeeded, not
without serious difficulty in dissemina-
ting the views which effected the adop-
ton of the constitution. But although
few able writer's might gain admission
to several presses which could unitedly
operate upon opinion in some cases, it
by no means followed that access would
be given even to the strongest pen
which should venture to reason, how
ever forcibly, against any earnest popu
lar excitement. The loss of some sub
scribers might ensue, and that loss
would be enough to cripple the paper.
The party lines, too, we're closely drawn,
so that no person disposed to express
an independent sentiment of a contro-
versial nature could rely upon a hear
ing. The cry of "Stop my paper !"
was too frequent and too formidable
not to inspire great caution in touching
angry questions. The effect was a
practical exclusion of independent
thought, and the multiplication of
presses which studied rather to follow
in the wake of public opinion than to
lead it.
We have outgrown all this. And the
new condition, though not unattended
with evils of its own, must be admitted
to be far in advance of the old one.
Many presses now spread their circula-
ton so far and wide that they no longer
have reason to dread the consequences
of maintaining free, unbiased course.
Party organs, purely as such, rather
lose than gain a foothold with consid-
erable numbers. And in the treatment
of questions of great interest there is
rapidly growing up demand upon the
most competent sources, of whatever
they may be pleased to furnish, without
calling the sentiment in question. The
mere name of a writer of established
weight is sufficient to secure him free
admittance somewhere or other to the
public view. Nay, the thing has gone
farther than this in Europe, and even
in some places in America. Persons
believed to be the best qualified to
treat some particular subject, for the
moment exciting an interest, are eager
1y sought for, and liberal compensation
offered for their work, if desired. The
effect of this must naturally be to pre-
sent additional inducements to the cul-
tivation of the particular gifts which Sc
cure similar results. One consequence
has actually been, in the chief coun-
tries of Europe, mode of treating the
higher questions of morals and politics,
law and government, by the public
press, very much in advance of the
practice of ancient times. And Just so
must it be with us presently, if not
now. The effect ought to be to raise
up class of persons fitted to meet the
particular want. How much that want
was felt during the critical portion of
the late war may well be measured by
the painful monuments of error which
remain as warning on the records of
the legislative department of the gov
eminent The rudiments of an educa-
tion of such class should be taught at
this university. They will stand in no
need of place to benefit the public, and
yet they will be fitted for it if called on
any suitable emergency. In any event,
they would be likely to guide public
opinion without regard to personal
considerations. Such, men make the
best of advisers. [ may be permitted
to cite an example that occurs to me as
a fine illustration of my meaning. l
would respectfully point to the learned
treatment by the venerable person
lately the president of the university at
New Haven, our foremost rival in good
works, of the chief disputed questions
growing out of the last treaty with
Great Britain. Free as he is from all
possible ambition for place, he has yet
been doing a service to us and the
world in general, for which the nation
should count him one of its benefac-
tors.