New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-10-19
THE MISSION OF JOuRNALIsM.
[Philadelphia weekly Times

Philadelphia weekly Times.
The Times on Sunday, inaugurated in
Philadelphia, what has long been one of the
leading features of daily journalism in all
the other chief cities of the Union.
Henceforth this journal will be issued
every day of the year, and the Sunday
edition, while filling every attribute of a
complete and reliable newspaper, will spe-
ciaIly aim at the entertainment and i'm
provement of the family circle. It will be
replete with the choicest literature, the
freshest sketches, the boldest criticisms,
the most varied general and local intelli-
gence, the ablest correspondence, and its
editorial discussions will be thoroughly
independent on all questions Of current
interest In short, the Sunday edition OF
the Times will be most complete news
paper with every feature of family Jour
nal that can commend it to the homes of
city and country.
Until recently the American press has
failed alike to appreciate and to fulfill its
responsible mission. In England it is de-
nominated the "Fourth Estate" but in
the New World the press is second only
to the pulpit in the education and direc-
ton Of the people, and the people are the
sovereign authority Of the land. Jour
nalism is to-day the great teacher of the
masses. It is more potent for good or for
evil than any other source of power in our
free institutions. 1t precedes and follows
the schools; it is the companion of child
hood; the helpmate of manhood; the SOL
ace of age, and its lessons are as ceaseless
as the return of spring and autumn. It is
the preceptor that insensibly molds the
convictions and the actions Of all classes,
and the journalism of any community
points unerriDgly to the tone of the peo-
pie. Devoted to evil; to the literature
that saps public and private morality, it
is q crowning curse. Devoted to the in
struction and elevation of its readers; to
literature that ennobles as it instructs, it
is the conservator of sound public and pri-
yate morals, and il is constant in its work
Of making better both Church and State.
There has been no great struggle for the
advancement Of civil and religious free
dom that did not rely upon the palpit
and the press IS the great instrumental
tiles to be summoned to the front
They were the authors and the victors Of
the Revolution; they made war and peace
in the second conflict with the mother
country; they regenerated the Republic
from the crime Of bondage through the
flame Of battle, and there has not been a
change of political rule in the nation that
has not received its inspiration from the
same omnipoteat fountains Of enlightened
public opinion. They grapple with the
wrongs Of the age; with the demoraliZa-
ton Of power; with the abuse of trust;
/ with the inmdious lawleaaness that has its
Gibbs and flows IN popular goveFnmBnt
and they call the halt that rescues soclety
and authority from existingo or thseatsuinq
degradation. = sLzlli
That the power of the press has been md-
| ly prostituted must be confessed by all, and
| it Is too commonly judged solely by sueh
1 as exercise its worst Influences; bus ita
power Is none the less because 10 is per.
verted. In no country 10 the world arr
the people 90 generally intelligent as Il
i ours. They are all readers As q rule. and
the newspaper Is their instructor. Many
hear tie Lessons Of the pulPit, but ths
newspaper il, everywhere and carries ID.
blessings, OF its eontaeioA 70 almost ever
household and to waA nigh every wan
derer on the continenk Their wanti
change not-neilhar with days nor seasonl
do they suspend their alaiA1. They an
supplied because they must be supplied
and the reputable daily Journal owes it 70
the welllbeing Of society and TO the pro
motion Of the intelligence that Is the pa
rent Of order and norafity, to accept ID.
high duty Of tbs press and discharge j
with fidelity. IS he popular conservato.
Of public and pfitels inlsofity: - ID.
fearless and effective teor Of the hnith
less IN official authority. IS the chanan&os
Of every step in material, mora and intsE
ilectuaI progress, aud a. ghs etett uonokel
81 tlie people from the hiqhe1 alai
10 thd hrmhleet ciRizsH, the prfsg IA aIA y
Recognized, alike By ito eondheio ~
b. the oonntrS. "a an inataiidn at s
paSablY associated viii ne eletako
| q shs decline q oar bsseacsAs cixill
'-sa ~ II alsi 81 tc1eiriiloa 70 sflf