The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-03-20
This American Press and the
American Citizen.

L
millions of countrymen. Each voter
is one OF ten millions of adult mon
entitled to suffrage, to be heard il
the witness stand, to be admitted to
the jury-box, and possibly to places
OF official trust. But Americans look
forward to the day when each citl-
zen will be one of four hundred mil
hons, and each voter ono OF a hun.
dred millions.
Do we sufficiently consider what
1t is for numbers of men so vast and
90 diverse by nature and situation TO
decide principle Of government Or
to elect ruler? Would such man
iisstation of choice be possible in
China
How vast the interest involved in
any national question ter people So
enormous in numbers How great
tho intelligence smendsd, how good
the intention required to assure a
correct and benstcisnt solution -
Each voter must decide not merely
fer himself, but for the whole.
We find everywhere in history
how clearly it was believed that
monarchical rulers should be inform.
ed how skilltul educators were
sought for the coming monarch of q
great people; how museums and all
aids TO culture were employed Tor
his training and Information. Inc
king could command all service re.
quirsd for the State. All must tell
him tho truth. But every Am sri.
can voter is, indeed, a sovereign in
the decision OF any special political
question, 30 far as his vote counts
among the millions.
In either case, ii monarch or citi.
zen, the result depends upon ade-
quats information, good intention,
and appropriate action. The moral
accountability in each case remains.
Now, the period of youth passed and
its culture accomplished, the great
instrumentality Upon which tho
American citizen, in these vast re-
sponsibilities, under these difficult
conditions, must depend for infor.
nation to found in the opinions;
and actions is the Press
He may travel aid observe, but he
can neither be Ubiquitous nor re.
all he has seen and heard
Books may help him, but, after all,
the current movements OF his ideas
and action must depend upon the
journalistic press. Should it not be
the ambition Of the American press
to hold itself responsible to tell
these sovereign American citizens the
truth?
Should he not have the power and
wight to compel an honest service P
Nay, should he be required to accept
any ether service, since it is render
cd on his paymsnt-that 10, himself
and tho public, OF which he is one,
are it's peouniary supporters.
But what are the facts ? No doubt
there are enlisted in the service of
the newspaper press :nultitudes Of
most capable and honest writer's and
publishers. None are more capable,
mono render bstter service. But
the rapid growth of the press has
been attended with much boasting in
certain quarters. Many injurious
motives and practices have crept TO-
to its management. Had there been
more general care for its wise use,
less evils would have followed.
We stand now at point IN our
political progress when many facts
especially suggestive on this subject
are patent to the public. Out OF the
general beasting Of tho press to
MAKE or destroy mon, few leading
papers conceived the idea that by
their own power they could destroy
one President and make another tor
the American people. Through ons
set of men on the surface they con
Quoted one convention in Cincinnati
and though another set Of men a
Democratic sonv entlon in Baltimore
No doubt there were behind and IN
this movement certain limited ele'
nsnts Of patristlsm and hsnestyi but
the controlling powers were direct
ly the opposite; and soon thereafter
it seemed as if honesty and wisdom
were abandoned and every other ap
pliance brought into requisition, Q
organization, meetings, speeches
documents, corruption. and falslfica
tlsn. A psrvsrsion OF facts ant
descriptions Of character were thel