The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-06-24

Bless me, sir, what an extraordlnar
question: Where is the use of reading
newspaper if one is to be at the troubl
of thinking for oneself after all? NJ
no, sir; we are not such fools in Littl
Pedlington as that comes to; and happ!
are they who are content to read bu
one paper, for in that case they know
exactly what to think"
Mr.. Yawkins tells graphically tn
common experience of those who abus
the freedom of the press by reading
/ tent to read but one paper knows exact
/ iy what to think. And what is more
his neighbors know exactly what h.
] thinks
Persons of exuberant fancy have al
ways been speculating upon forming the
| character of the people by getting hole
of some particular crank. Some one o.
these, noting the influence of song in
forming the common mind, beginning
with the profound philosophical maxims
of Mother Goose, inefacebly impresse
on our infantile minds, has said, "Give
me the making of the songs of the peo
pie, and care not who makes their
laws"
But the songs of the people are imita-
ton negro jargon, while the daily news
paper does all their thinking. Another
cranky person has said, "Show me the
books of the family, and l shall know
the measure of its culture But the
books may be chosen for setting for
the bookcases while one may say:
"Tell me what newspaper the family
takes, and | shall know it's intellectual
and moral character, and its opinions on
all subjects"
l,o . l,
no less title than the great moral en-
CINE. In the morning there is mental
yacuity in the family till the morning
paper comes in. Any delay in its arrival
is as depressing to the moral stomach as
the delay of breakfast is to the physical
The father of the family equips himself
with ideas for the day by skimming over
the more glaring news, leaving the
weightier matter to lull him to sleep
when he returns home at night. The
sons get from it their topics and little
anecdotes and witty sayings for society
conversation. The grown up daughters
find in its hundred different subjects or
items abundant food for their charming
natures, and a sure pre-
ventive for the danger of concentration
of the mind on any one subject Con-
centration of the mind is the first stage
of insanity. Daily literature, which scat
ters the brains, is preventive of insani-
ty. 1t is a blessing to mothers, better
than all the soothing syrups with which
they lay in infants the foun-
dation of that craving for stimulants, for
which they have to turn crusaders and
chase them out of the drinking saloons
when they grow up. Children cry for it.
it the household would be
mental void, and would incontinently
run into all sorts of mischief.
The great moral engine is theme for
discourse by all sorts and con-
ditions of people. The pulpit recognizes |
the higher power of the daily newspaper
and tries to hold on to its own diminish
ed mission through the reports of the |
press, and to be waited to fame on its
Duffs. The judicial bench meekly re- |
cords the decisions made by the newspa-
per, or suffers popular contempt. Law
Ters seek to try their cases in advance |
schools, framed upon the high and prac-
,ical aim to educate all the children of |
,he people to enter the light and genteel
and to unfit them for the
abor destiny, confess their inferiority
before this universal educator. The ad-
of government owe their
political existence to the newspaper, and
ullY acknowledge their dependence.
People of fashion invite its editors to
heir parties, lest at some convenient
season the editors may invite them be-
ore the public in an unpleasant fash 10 o.
Ambitious mothers induct its reporters
nto the inner mysteries of their daugh-
ers' wedding outfit before even the
is admitted.
The newspaper makes and unmakes
generals and victories. Commanders of
lrmies are careful to place its correspon-
tents on their staffs, to make that which
S humorously called "the truth of histo-
"" Printing, when first invented, was
alled the black art. Through its alche-
ny retreats are transmitted into changes
If base; repulses into fanking move
nents; defeats to moral victories; march
ng away from the enemy to glorious
marches to the sea. 1t makes history
rom day to day which no power can ever
lnmake. All sorts of men and women
eek to propitiate the great moral en-
ine, which has so much power to make,
nd so much greater power to undo, rep
Itations.
Naturally the common mind desires to
NOW the elements, the constituent
arts, the structure of an engine of such
7onderful power In this we behold
hat simplicity which is quality of true
reatness. The great moral engine is
of movable type, made of lead;
f compositors to set type in form; of
hick ink, whose governing property is
ampblack; of elastic rollers, whose ele-
aents are molasses and glue, to spread
he ink over the forms of type; Of iron
ylinders driven by steam power, to press
be paper on the type; and of editor, who
upplies the moral lessons to be impress
d on the paper, and who is, therefore,
he engineer of the great moral engine.
The true anatomy of the great moral
ngine gives no sign of its power; but
either does the human body give to the
any token Of its immortal
oul Lead is dull, heavy metal, very
seful for the dispatch of surplus popu-
alton, but not at all suggestive of intel
sctual illumination. Compositors are 1
ctuated by the same noble ambition as
ther men-to get most pay for least val
e, and they are not conscious of the
ne sentiments which pass through
heir nimble fingers. Lampblack, in its {
atural use, blackens that which is fair,
ather than whitens character, as it does
4 the newspaper. Molasses and glue, {
Though a sweet-tempered composition,
O not suggest the dissemination of ideas
Tags and straw give notion of refuse
he real printing press is only combi-
alton of ink-rollers and of revolving CYL
lders for giving mechanical pressure J
The editor, when detached from the
ther parts, seems TO be only man, hav-
1g passions with other men, He eats,
rinks, and, after q manner, sleeps, as
ther men. He has his loves and his un-
oves the same as other men, the same
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