The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-02-10
MORAL FUNCTION OF TIE
NEWSPAPER.


lermon last Slbbath evening In the
Congregations Church ppon the above
subject, taxing for his text, D.eut.
81 10.
The art of writing is Of very ancient
origin; bur IN hose ancient times Ii
YVES not very popular art being con-
fined to tue few scrIbes OF the times
The f st writings were on bark, skin,
papy1as, and monuments. The first
newspaper was The smooth side OF
mountain only one copy lssued--ln
rather an inconvcDient form for mailing.
AT these times The bard was ne great
disseplinator Of information. The bard
was the poet, teacher, preacher and
prophet. In those days the college and
tile academy were iIluerant institutions,
going from place 10 place on two feet.
But the bard mingled SO mpch- OF ticllon
with the history he sang tLat the truth
was often covered over by bis imagine y
scenes; but the song Of tile text was 20 be
| written so that 1t could be handed down
to the coming generations in It's pu y
and uuthiuness-- written to teacn
the people the goodness and glory CT
God. Ir all ages The fcedels IT the bia .
have been the greatest department IL the
elevation, and advancemens az mankind,
1 and the rcacher stan.is n he head OF
the teachefs CT men. But the writer
reaches more than The speakers voice.
Bunyanthrough his book, "The Pilgrims
Progress set him before an audience OF
millions, while his voice could only have
reached few thousands. Mrs stowe.
with her "Uncle Toms Cabin, did mere
toward Kidding this land Of the curse Of
| African slavery than all the orators snd
preachers combined. The newspapers
In this respect have some gfeat advar-
tages-- have become mighty engine for
| good or evil, and have the largest audi
ences. A paper with five hundred sub
scribels is addressing an audience of fl
| re peated every day or every week. The
newspap ers are the organs OF Public
opinion. They give the pictures OF the
day. Every public measure and every
public man is tried by this great tribu-
nat-the newspapers. Beecher IS being
tried by them The church could not
decide-the civil court could not decide
bis case-but the newspapers are trying
him. and so will they try every one OF
note, and every important question; and
who does not rejoice at this power fer
the advancem emit OF good order. The
Pope has issued bis lean against certain
bco,.s, and publications, but his efforts
are futile SO long as the newspapers are
read uy the people. He must utterly
destroy the newspapers, before he can
accomplish his purpose. The newspa-
J psrs as class are tending weli--improv-
sling in the right direction. To make the
newspapers what they should be, they
should be freed from all partisanshlp-
they should be the organ of all that is
sht, and not of Larty. They should be
as willing to condemn a wrong in their
own party as in any 0ther-amoDg theif
4 friends as their foes. They should be
the upholderss of righteousness. The
newspapers should be freed from any
pecuniary consideration Spoke very
strongly against a certain Chicago editor
whose avowed object is 90 make paper
to sell, and not to please the clergy
whose aim is TO make money, and not to
better society ard the race He said
he would not name the paper, because it
was Sunday; but every one understood
him to refer to the Chicago zs0ass. Told
the secret of tho editorial senate OF that
paper, when they discussed the position
to be taken by that paper in reference
10 Swing, II which 1t was decided to Ego
easy on SWING The newspaper should
not be entirely devoted to religion, but
.houldkbs she grand ally of the church.
Then ended his sermon with strong
panegyric of tho honest editors who can
do so much for the right and the eleva-
ton of the race.
The Dime Readings at the Methodist church
1..4 AInndnr was ell attended sat