The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-01

Dut ~ ID INC Same Ii INC press No IL al tuih8os
AN INFERNAL ELEMENT
IN 1t as wen as elements human and divine the
press resembles the great image seen by the king
IN his dream 1t s glorious and good at its best and
highest, meaner as you reach downward, ana at
dream further In that the various elements gold,
Dsver, brass. iron and clay, represent something
are first found in the people. who make the form
and substance possible; then they are displayed in
those who make the press to suit those they work
The powerful and wonderful creation which
stands before us Is the image OF the people, who
our literature, religion, drama and administration
IT Is an outcome and an income. AT its best IL is
OF our houses; at its worst like the stagnant pools
ana marshes that turn to slime In the sun. That
THE AMERICAN PRESS
snouiu distance the world in enterprise Is as
natural as It Is for grass to grow; Tor there Is no
such enterprise on earth AZ that displayed by the
American people. That the American press should
be trenchant, humorous, keen and bright is also
natural for are not these our natural character.
istlcsf That the American press should contrive
London Times into hall the space is also natural;
lor we live busy and impatient life,
OF the English. That the American press should
be replete with personal scraps about every per-
natural, for Americans are the most curious and
inqutsitive race on earth. II we no longer lay IN
wait for the stranger as we did in the days Of
THE INTERVIEWER,
that most remarkable phenomenon Of modern
times and the reader Is sure to nd out all that he
desires to know IN the next days paper the
press opens every horrible catastrophe 70 . It's
lines ana catchwords 1t charges the pulpit with
being sensational God help US the charge Is only
reS Is thicker than lie ns
And, 6nally 1t is natural that below all-meaner
sH To- ss e 81 50 Of osr
nature, to the devil that Is in rs,
rather than to the angel or the mans for there are
mulIitudes In this land to whom the devil is mas
ter, who do his dirty bidding and are led captive
at his win. These people prefer garbage for their
drink. Such papers are their dramshops, where
are fed the evil passions that end in crime, or
where, at the best, fine tastes and tendencies are
~ WV ~ ''o FREEDOM REEF OF THE PRESS
] want 1t to be frank and fearless about men and
things, no matter who gets hurt. have no sympa-
thy with nor share In the sentimental squeamish-
ness which would cover up that which should De re-
vealed. Here the press, Or rather, the nOber part
the fearful disease Of personal and public
frequently quails Writers may be IKE finger
posts, indicating the way they do not travel-so
Indispensable. do not, therefore, object to the
fair free and full discussion Of our mutual little
ness, even with the lttleness Of the writer's left
not But this loathe and conference.-the social
treachery and license which induce man to un-
to see the cancer. This
SHINY SCANDAL
cleaning ont of the dark, that you cannot COM
bat with the weapons OF truth and reality any more
than you can spear seajelly-these lascivious
suggestions to poison our youth-these are the mud
mingled with iron at the feet of our image OF EEK
celent brightness" and this class OF newspaper is
q marslight, fitting over decay and rot tenness.
would desire to advert to the absence OF falr-
our great journals when they are engaged in ex-
cited discussion. Scratch the average American
journalist and you find an Indian with club and
tOmahawk. II civility be sign OF civilization the
press is only vanished over and Is ready at any
moment to throw or its mask and brain It's antag-
the blow it deals be above or below the belt.
Now, what hope is there that this gigantic power
will grow better and not worse
1t Is great hope to me, in the first place, that
THE BEST OF OUR JOURNALS
are all the time winning their way into wider
perfectly free and perfectly honest; they want no
office nor plumber, and will have none. They
o se ue Citizen They
from afar upon the mountain tops The dawn OF q
better day, when politicians will become patriots
these dark moments to rise take our places and
| begin with the new opportunity. Journals like
these are the true leaders Of the people, and as
they go the journals that do not lead, but follow,
will go. do not look for political millenfum,
s% sne
OF honest and capable men for the whole service OF
the country. In this great work the press must
believe that great and good newspaper is
AS SACRED IN ITS OWN WAY AS THE BIBLE.
There is in 1t something OF the very present Word
Of God to man and OF man to God. 1t is as true q
minisrant to the best life OF the soul good bread
Is to the best life Of the body and as Indispensable
as the second lesson" in our service. He prays
and praises best who keeps up the truest and
steadiest intimacy with good paper, because 1t
out towards the whole living creation when he
bends in entreaty or thanksgiving before the
Throne OF God. He breaches best who, FIRST we'll
grounded in the sacred verities watches the news
paper-that mirror OF the present time-and SO
Springs out. OF his treasury things both old and
one or the other. The Bible is the divine Book to
me but there are other books that are divine IN