National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-25
THE PRESS AND TIE PEOPLE.

That the newspaper press wields apower
in the moulding and transformation of pub
lie opinion unequaled by any other agency
of the present day and generation, few win
deny. 1t is the medium through which the
people communicate with each other and
disseminate thSir views and illuminate their
opinions, and discuss the principles and
policies Of governments and the teuets and
doctrines of religions. 1t is the general
reservoir of intelligence, from which all
expect to draw at will. 1t is not only q
record of current events, but also COM
msntary upon them and contrast of
those Of to-day with those which have
gone before. And deductions from the
past are expected from ii, thinning the
probable future. No business man of ex-
perience and success thinks of commenc
ing the operations of the day without first
scanning the columns of the morning jour
nal The general news, the finances and
market reports, the marine intelligence, and
last but not least the advertisements advis-
ing of business chances are all passed in re-
view, before the chart for the transactions
of the day is marked out. Half century
ago this was not the case. Then people in
formed themselves of affairs in their own
immediate vicinity by observation, and of
those at distance by letters of correspond
ence. They considered and thought for
themselves, and formed their own conclu-
sions.
Our commercial, financial and business
men in all the walks of life testify their
belief in the efficacy of the press as an aid
10 sales, purchases and exchanges by the
numerous columns of their advertisements
which adorn its pages. No great under
taking is expected to succeed without its
cooperative aid. The theory of our laws
inculcates the widest publicity to all Gov
eminent contracts for either sale or pur-
chase. That publicity is sought through
the press as the only immediate and uni
versal means q communication between
the Government and the people.
1t follows that the shrewd and enlight-
ened public officer communicates his policy
to the people through the press, and invites
their approval and cooperation in carrying
it out. Late experience has shown that no
public officer can afford to ignore such aid
and cooperation of the people. The press
is essentially the organ of the people, and
they demand that information upon public
affairs (Which are their afairs) shall be com
municated to them through this common
channel It is too late to aver that the peo-
pie cannot be trusted with the news. They
have on too many occasions proven their
capacity to deal with intricate questions of
public policy with a sagacity, courage and
directness which amazed men in high posi-
TONS Upon the breaking out of the late
war, when the fat Of the money-lenders Of
Europe went forth against our securities,
the Secretary of the Treasury made an ap-
peal to the people of this country to come
to the aid of the Government, and in re-
Spouse to that call his loan was taken with
such promptitude as to shame the money
lenders at home and abroad into the same
line of conduct. And experience has proven
ever since that the American people are
ever ready and generous to sustain any Gov
eminent which deals honestly and frankly
with them and keeps them advised o. its
necessities. But this people is jealous
people. 1t will not tolerate faVoritism. 1t
demands that all shall be treated alike.
Fish shall not be made Of one class while
flesh is made of another. Close corpora
tons, otherwise called ''rings" or anything
bearing semblance thereto, are an sbomi-
nation.
If public officers decline to communists
to the press facts Of general interest as they
transpire, such declination Is pretty sure to
be attributed to some bad motive. A mis-.
construction is pretty sure shortly to COM
pei an explanation. Is it not the part of
wisdom and sagacity to start the right view
at the frst3 An explanation, if it be the
truth, rarely overtakes the lying misreprs-
sentation which compelled it. The preju-
dice formed in the first instance is with the
greatest difficulty removed. Hence the
sagacious statesman of to-day puts forth his
policy through the press, giving it the right
and proper OOlOring ct the outset