American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-04
THE PRESS.

tuition that is more abused than the
press. This abuse is the result of
ignorance on the part of many who
conduct it, as to its high aims, aud
the grand mission which lies before
it. Those who enter upon jOuI nal
ism with the one idea of money
making, prostitute it to very base
uses. The press yields powerful
influence either for good or evil.
Properly conducted, it becomes the
organ of public sentiment, and gives
tone and character to communities
and States. 1t is the companion of
the civil ruler and absolute despOf,
the prince and the peaSant-a wei
como guest at the Preside of the
proud and opulent, and rests, like
benedictiOn, in the peaceful abOdes
of the humble and obscure. 1t gives
tone to public morals, strengthens
the bonds of fraternity, m"ulds the
sentiments of the people, keeps
alive the "embers Of decaying VIZ
tue'' in the hearts of the tImid and
lukewarm, by presenting Its glow
ing images as they are reflected
from the actions of the great ami
good, and wakes up '.patriotism
from Its beautiful slumbers," by
keeping in view the lives Of our an-
cestors, and repeating the story Of
their greatness. These give to the
press a glorious mission. The world
becomes it school room, and gather
ing materials from every pursuit,
and knowledge from every field eft
enterprise, it becomes Wade Me-
cum in every community. In = word,
it is the reflex of an active, living
present, the record of dead and
buried past, aud an index to the
dim and distant future. 1t is either
blessing or a curse, an exalter or
leveller of humanity. 1t sustains
the same relation to its readers that
a teacher does to his pupils, that of
instructor, and if it is faithful to it's
trusts, and competent to discharge
the high functions of its Office, it
becomes an evangel of good but
if it be false to its trusts, and in
competent to the discharge of its
obligations. then its mission is
failure. and it becomes "a blind
leader of the blind
The press was not designed, as
many suppose, merely for the pur-
pose of money making. 1t was in
stituted with higher aims, and en-
trusted with nobier interests. The
man who conducts it solely on this
basis, without regard to the solemn
responsibilities which attach to it,
is utterly unified for the duty of
his post, and wholly unworthy the
dignity of his high vocation. eff
ful to his mission, money cannot buy
him; power cannot sway him des
potIsin cannot intimidate him, nor
Establishments lure him from the
path of duty, and the dictates of
honor and truth" So says one of
the brightest ornaments of journal
ism in the South. The same wri-
II ter adds: "\Ve have never been
able to separate between the char
actcr of thu piper and the character
of the man who mule the paper
who gave it form and substance.
and brea he'd into it his OWN breath
of life. With such convictions alone
can We have any connection with
the press. If the paper deals false
( Is, the man must lie In morals, and
beth he and MS paper become I'M
worthy and contemplate"
This is the opinion of journal
! ist who is an honor to the Craft, an
ornament to society, and the high
est type of noble christian gen
tleman, and which should be
thoughtfully weighed by all who
assume so great a responsibility as
) that nf iournaliSm