Connecticut western news., 1879-03-26
Power of the Press.
THE REV. o. B. FRoTHINGHAM IN A SUN
 DAY ADDRESS IN NEW YORK.

DAY ADDRESS IN NEW YORK.
 The Rev.. o. B. Buckingham deliv- cred, in the Masonic Temple, New York, an address on e The Press" .,- .
 In speaking of the voices of power that sway modern communities, said the speaker, we must give the first place to the1pulpit. This power belongs to it on account of it's dignity, its antiquity and the e.subJects with which it deals. The pulpit aims to influence the characters of men, and their thoughts, desires and aspirations. The preacher is powerful according to the power; and force with which he presents his ideas to the minds of his hearers. TN f
 But if the first place is to be given to the pulpit, the second position should be awarded to the press, and it is of the press that I would speak. II. the pulpit is one of the oldest of our institutions, the press is surely one of our newest. In 1776 there were but thirty-seven papers of all grades in the United States. Of these nine were in Pennsylvania, seven in Massachusetts and four in New York. All of these, with one exception, were weeklies, and that single exception was a semi-weekly. Now there are 8, 900 papers of all grades in the country. New York has the most, Pennsylvania comes next, and Massachusetts comes seventh or eighth in the list. Now the dailies are all but numberless. A hum dred years ago there was a paper for one in every a0,OO0 people two years ago there was a paper for one in every 5000. The general characteristics, how ever, remain the same. The press ad- dresses the ear and the pulpit the soul of the world. Here in phrase is the cardinal and fundamental distinction. The paper is still newspaper, devoted to the extension of information.
 The money cost of carrying on daily paper, which requires great amount of trained enterprise, skill and energy, can hardly be expressed in figures. But there is something underneath these ex- ternal, visible facts, and it is necessary to explain why certain events occurred when they did, and what will be their probable effect. Hence arises the need of editorial columns, to which historians, critics, philosophers, financiers, and sta tisticians contribute. The editorial page is a recent outgrowth of journalism. Sixty years ago high-minded, acute Boston man picked up from the ranks of philosophers, statesmen and histo- rians those who were most capable, and their editorial contributions caused his paper to be read and copied all over the country. Every fact, too, has be- hind it moral causes, and means some thing for society. Hence the press teaches about right and wrong, and to a great paper department of morals and ethics is necessary.
 Why, then, does not the press become greater power-why not prescribe philosophy, dictate ethics, and say what religion shall be used? First, because the gathering and publishing of news is business that is expected to pay. It is estimated that the cost of establishing great paper is hardly less than $1, 000, 1000, and there are papers represent ing more than this. Advertisements must pay the bulk of the expenses; the subscriptions pay for the paper-noth- ing more. See, now, the danger. To secure advertisements, papers do not al- ways advertise their circulation correct ly. The circulation, however, must be kept up, and how can this be done? By the most hish-minded and magnanimous means No. Can an editor advocate a cause that the people reject? Such a stand would be fatal. A newspaper may lead, teach, inculcate, but it cannot con- trol. The paper may be silent on some topic; it may follow at distance or in disguise, or it may seem not to follow, but it must follow, or the wind will de- sert its sails. No paper can battle with the world. If it runs counter to the opinions of it's constituency it runs upon a rock. Then, too, unless newspaper treats of politics it is out of the world. No paper can be out of party and have a great constituency. For the Very in dependence that it creates reacts against it! Party prejudices and the disposition to look on the strong side oi ones own case and on the weak side ot your neighbours form the peril. sa
 Now it is evidentfrom these considera. tions that in the future the newspapers are to be more extensively read, but that their influence is to grow less. They will be read with more reserve.
 In 1876, 8,120 papers and periodicals of every rank printed in the country over l 1,250, 100000 copies. The population of the country was about 38, 900, ,000--i e., eighty-two papers year to every in dividual. Hence there is much room for the extension of the influence of the press. During the five years preceding 1876 there was an average of six new papers started every day, but there wal an actual increase of 1only 2,000. Many of these papers subsist chiefly by clip
 pings and extracts from the great me :, tropolitan journals, The power of tho papers must have limitation and the, , should be glad. for there is nothing s' , dangerous as power. The press ,shoult be content to stimulate and sugges thought, and to spread information , Let it leave domination to those who ar E more competent The tenement -hous , question would be partially solved , that class of people could be persuade to read the newspapers. They woul , be stimulated by a desire for nor