New-York tribune., 1879-03-10
POWER OF THE PRESS.

RSr. o. 3. FTott ttnghGnt az tNe hdS"''' ''"f''-
The Rev. 0. B. rockingham delivered yes
terday morning. in the Masonic Tempe, before large
congregation, an address on " The Press
In seaking OF the voices OF power that sway modern
communities said the speaker. we must give the first
place 70 the pulpit This power belongs to 1t on account
Of its dignity ts antiquity and the subjects with when
If deals The pulpit aims 10 influence the characters OF
men, aud their thoughts desires and aspirations Inc
preacher Is powerful according TO the skill and force
with which he presents his ideas 10 the minds OF his
bearers
But IL the first place is TO be given 10 the pulpit the
second position should be awarded to the press and II
ia Of the press that / would speak II the pulpit
Is one OF the oldest Of our institutions, the
press is surely one Of our newest. In 1776 there
we're but thrty-seven papers Of all grades IN
the United States. OF these nine were in Pennsylvania,
seven IN Massachusetts and four In New-1Ork All OF
these, with ono exception, were weekles, ana mat
5 900 papers OF ali grades in the country New-York
has most, Penusy vaua comes next aud Massachu-
sctts Is seventh or eighth III the lst Now inc uales
are all but uumberess. hundred years ago there was
a.aper for in every 10000 people; two years ago
there was paper for one IN every ooOo 4HT genera
characteristics, however, remain me same Inc press
addresses the ear and the pulpit the soul OF the
Here in phrase IS the cardnal snu Iuhgdntltai us
tinctiOn The paper is st newspaper, devoted 10 tue
The money cost OF carrying on a daily paper which
requires great amount OF trained enterprise skill Az
energy, hardly be EXPRESSED III figures But there
something underneath these external visible facts and
It necessary 10 explain why certain events occurred
Hence arises the need OF editorial columns 10 whtc MIS-
toraus critics. philosophers, nancIers and statsclans
contribute. The editorial page Is recent 0utgrOWth OF
Journalism. Sixty years ago high minded acute BOs-
ton man picked from ranks OF philosophers states
their editorial contributions caused his paper TO be read
and COPIED ali over The country Every fact too. has
behind il causes, and means something Tor society
Hence the press teaches about right and wrong and TO
a great paper department OF morals and ethics is
why then, does the press become greater power
why no; prescribe philosophy dictate ethics. and say
,tf. elta be he
ng and publishing OF news s business that Is expected
10 pay. 1t is estimated that the cost of establishing
snd there papers representing more than this
Advertisements must pay the bulk of the expenses the
subscriptions pay for the paper-notbing more see,
now the danger. To secure advertisements. papers do
NOT always advertise thor circulation correctly. The
r'rcuaton however, must he kept up, and now can
this be donoi BY the most hgh-minded aud magnani-
he people reiectl Such a stand would be fatal 4
newspaper NAV lead, teach nculcale, but II cannot
control The paper may be silent ON some topic; 1t nay
follow at distance or in disguise or II may seem not
70 io"o% UaC e . baftic Win the world If If mn
counter to the Opnous of It's constituency 1t runs upon
rock. Then, too, unless newspaper treats OF politics
md have Great constiturcv For the very indcpcnd
euce that II creates reacts against H. Party prjudces
md Inc disposition to look on the strong side oi ones
Swn ana the weak side Of your nelGhbors form
Now it is evident from these considerations that in
the future the newspapers are to be more extensively
read that their influence is TO less. They viii
be read with more reserve.
printed IN The country over l,25OOOOO00 copies The
population OF the country about 3s,O0OOOO-I. e..
B2 papers year TO every individual Hence there is
mUch room for the extension Of the Influence Of the
press During the five years preceding ls7G there was
IN average Of SIX new pspe.s started every day, but
here was au actual increase OF only 1900. Many Of
these papers sUbsis chiefly by clippings and extracts
from the eat metropolitan journals. The power OF the
papers must have a limit ttion; and they should be
tlad for Is nothing dangerous as power The
press should be content 10 stimulate and suggest
ihOu-ht, aud 10 spread Information. Let II leave
domination 10 those who are more competent
Inc tenemen-hOuse question would be partially solved
f that class of people could Uc persuaded TO read the
aewspapcrs They would be stimulated by desire for
healthy Surroundings, and for domestic happiness
md love.