Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-11-02
The DnifU Press.

lHC A(ttss0 49,
We fear the daily press oil our great
cities over estimate its importance ana It's
power to control pablo opihion aud
alters in this State The iecent nomina'
ton of candidate for high Office, by
daily papers, the subsequent virulent
personal campaign and the trembling
victory of the Republican party IL Sep
tember. have combined to force this
belief upon us.
The reason why the press is losing It's
influence is, its managers are governed
by personal, or motives other than those
which lead them TO seek for the best good
of our commonwealth. Ga questions OF
State policy, the views of individuals are
pressed against the will OF the majority,
aud that, too. to the disaifoction OF many
virtuous and intelligent men. An indi'
vidnal or contemporary who dares 10
oppose these mighty censors OF public
opinion is not answered by argument, but
by shower OF epithets and personalities
sufficient to bury him or cause him to
retire from the field in disgust.
An instance of personal motives taking
precedent over the unbiased opinion which
an editor should maintain; and, as many
believe, over the best interests of the
State, is exhibited by the course OF GER
tain journals in relation to the election of
a new Secretary of State.
These Journals have sought By supposi'
tons, indirect charges and direct false.
hoods to influence the action ol that body
whose duty it IS to select man TO fill the
position. This action on the Part OF our
daily press Is becoming altogether too
common. No office can remain vacant
long enough to even bury the dead, who
recently filed it, before the various
Journals trot out their candidates. II
two or three dailies favor the same candi-
date everything is lovely, and his nomin'
alton is virtually conceded II the daiies
differ, then we have season OF blackball.
ing and slandering. and the one who
throws the most muI in the allo.ed time
is the best fellow.
OF course it is the duty OF the press &c
set forth the claims OF various parties VIII.
aspire to secure = certain position; but il
should do 50 in an impartial manner, anC
not by innuondoes OF misrepresentation
seek to destroy the chances OF those op
posed 20 their layorile.
A year ago Jane, Parton Published AZ
article in Hupers Monthly, entitled
IA school in The Daily Press in which
ho showed many OF the short comings o
our d.iliss. but c)liael himself alnos
entirely t. tho work Of reporters. Th'
dailie' Of this STATE. j)inel the universe
'p-ess. and cried shame and talsehOo'
against the man who had It'd the solemn
truth, thus illustratingthe truth and fore,
of his words. NJ .ius plpors are, in {
certain measure. Tree flOn these ropor
.,rial irregularities. lJt they have NJ
organized corps OF professional reporters
and we should jIdge. s)m) OF their man
ayers DO not know what professional
reporter IS Bat. while free from Mr.
Puton's charge. on that score. they
eade .gor u veritf i, by editorial inaccu
racies, " hen 1t suits their laucies to do so
Tae yialiciligcness. N tlica and bias o
oar dlilcs, exhibited on every occasion
when their views are questioned or thei
plans crossed, is s. app4roa.lhtt oar peo
pie are learning dsl D. dJ t. m;s.ru'
them more aud mlrJ. We wish Tai, wer'
not tn. ease. We wish the press nigh
he kept pure. employed oay Tor the dis
animation OF truth aai information an.
Tor tho lablic good.
When our press is controlled by iuie
pendent thinkers, il will occupy tha
position in the public economy which VA
intended for il. The editor OF daily
paper should be no politician. lie shoul'
be Il historian rather ,htn prophet, re
eordios events a. they tran,pire, rattle
than seeking to bring about his o%n pre-
diciions.