National Republican., 1873-05-29
THE AMERICAN NEWSPAPER.

Sermon by Rev. Robert Collyer In Chicago.
Dr.. Collyer preached sermon In Chicago
few days ago on the power and influence OF the
American press. lie saldi There can be no
doubt that the great power for good or evil In
our American life aud In Europe, Russia, per-
haps, excepted,) Is the newspaper. In countries
that believe in q monarchy It Is the real King,
and In republics, both here and there, the Presl-
dept They look to u for inspiration and dlrec-
ton as few Of them, fear, ever look 10 the Lord.
The newspaper Ia also the most remarkable out
come Of our modern civilization. I know Of no
one thing beside that has gathered into itself so
greatly the very essence Of the invention and
discovery which ha. made the last hundred years
peerless In this respect over all that went before,
or which employs to-day 30 much Of the finest
power In the thought and life OF man. The
steam engine docs no days work so marvellous
In Its whole result as that done down IN the
cellars OF the newspapers. The wire flashes
such freight as It's last edition, and the
artist and photographer has no such opening be-
side a. this that transfers his finest work at once
minds Of a million men. "lIow do you manage
70 md your faces" said once TO Mr.. Mast, long
before he began 70 do the dirty work Of the last
art IL not as much art AZ nature" and referred
especially 10 picture he had Just published Of
the renowned Mr.. Nasty. ~ seek my man, he
and photograph; this one ! found IN a New YORK
drinking saloon, aud only altered II to suit my
purpose" The newspaper makes such men
public property. We all know them when we
see them, and 80, instead OF combining the
likeness TO the portfolios OF the curious and the
print-shops Of the capitals, Il sends the worthy
that was not as sweet and true as his own heart,
with the farthest reaches OF India, America aud
Australia, and our work here, worthy and un-
worthy alike, over the pralries and in among the
woods TO take Its chance and do Its work In the
book that men can read when they can make no
more Of printed page than he can make OF san.
scrit on the old ruins.
Powerful and wonderful as this creation stands
before US to-day, II Ia the image OF tho people,
who are looking at u In hope and fear In admira-
ligion. the drama, the Congress, the Senate
house, and the Administration outcome
nrst, and then an Income; at Its best II Is like the
ries Of our great bulldings-a proof that
we have people among us who work, aud plan,
and pay TO make life clean and good and at It's
that turn 70 slime In the sun, to attract
ship TO the eyil some people tolerate about them,
Thai he O h1ercSn @ @ presa should distance 'ps M
world In enterprise Is as natural as IL Is for the
grass to grow on the prairies In this latter May,
because there is no huch enterprise on the earth
to-day as this that our people show. That IL
should be generally keen, bright, trenchant,
quick and humorous IA also natural, because
these are natural characteristics too. That It's
leading articles should contriye to pack all the
sense Into half the space OF the leaders In
paper like the London Times is again natural be-
cause every day we live q hasty, impatient life,
processes Of the life In England and editors know
well that II they should give US piece OF their
mind In two columns, we should look at the long
trate their labor. but stop our subscription.
That we should have hundreds Of personal and
lmpersonal items about everything, and every
man and woman under the sun who happens 10
strike the public eye, Is also natural, because,
take US altogether, there is no such curious and
lnqulsitiye race on the planet. In one respect,
indeed, the old stock American Of Mr.. TrollOpe
and Mf. Dickens has mended his ways; he lays
In walt no longer for the stranger TO hnd out all
about him; but there Ia reason for that also;
III eIssS ,ae ~ ne most re-
he keeps quiet In the full assurance that he will
get the whole truth In the next issue OF his
paper and a great deal more. II Is natural
that every horrible catastrophe should be
opened out TO the mlnutest secret and clrcum-
stance, with deep headlines and catch-wonls ali
the way down, not so much that the ends OF jus
tlce may be met with swift, sure stroke, hut
that the dish OF highest seasoning may self the
most papers. the press charges the pulpit with
being sensational, and, indeed, God help us, the
charge Is only too true; but the little nnger OF
the press In this respect Is thicker than the lolns
of the pulpit. Certainly, edltors, OF all men In
me world, live IN glass houses; And nnally Il Is
there should be papers that minister habltually
TO the yilest and meanest passions OF our
common nature; TO the devil that ia WITHIN US
rather than the angel or the man, be-
cause there are multltudes OF men and women
IN whom the devil is master; who do his dirty
bidding, and are led captive at his will. They
prefer such garbage to clean and wholesome
things, as some people prefer whisky TO wheaton
bread and clear coffee. This Is their dran-lrnk-
Ing, and such papers are their dram-shops, where
evil passions are fed that end In crime, OF at the
best where nne tastes and tendencies are
blunted and something comes like "The little
Pltled speck In gaInered fruit, which, eating
Inward, slowly moulders ALL"