The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-10
THE AMERICAN NEWSPAPER.
a Lecture on its Use and Mlsuse-Its hx-
istence as an Educating Factor
Defined,

WA va ~@t1SA o~A
tatiye of the people. Whoever would form
q correct estimate Of the spirit, genus ana
life of Americans must study the newspapers.
Our virtues, our vices, our thoughts and
opinions, our politics, our trade, our push
and pride, our weakness, strength, creeds,
customs and civilization, all are imagined 10
our periodical publications. The American
newspaper has no rival on earth in the volume
and variety of its issues. More than lO,oOO
papers appear each week from our newspaper
press. More than 1000, 900, 900 copies are
circulated annually. They cover the whole
field of human thought and interests. Livery
department Of business, manufacture ana
trade has it's advertiser. Schools, scientific,
moral, educational, religious, political and
charitable societies and organizations publish
newspapers devoted to their interests and
filled with their ideas. But stating the num-
Der Of newspapers does not tell the whole
story. One must note well
THE GREAT ARMY OF WRITER'S
who help to fill their columns, the editors,
assistants, reporters, correspondents, critics
and contributors of all kinds, which, paid
and unpaid, include O. large portion OF the
talent of the country. The best brain Of the
nation speaks through the newspapers. The
--latest and freshest thought OF the people IS
to be sought ia the last paper issued. Malice,
meanness, fana'icism, folly, f%alsehoods and
frauds, which mix with our daily life, can
not be shut out from the paper. But truth,
wisdom, practical sense and love OF the pub
lie good, solid learning and courageous criti-
cism are also in force in the newspapers, SO
that we may easily forget the bad elements
which mingle with them. It IS the business
Of social science to take account OF all great
public forces. to mark their exact character
and tendencies, and to learn their amount
and direction of power for good or evil. The
newspaper is at once the product and eXpon-
ent Of the American mind-no better, no
worse. The good probably exceeds the bad
in newspapers in a larger proportion than
among the people; for vice seeks seclusior,
not publicity. In no other country does the
newspaper exercise such power as in Ameri-
ca. Americans live, work and think through
the newspapers. Acting as
PUBLIC CONSCIENCE,
it places its seal OF shame or honor On each
chapter of our history as it tranapires. No
American forgets it. It watches to reward
the good and punish the bad. Good men trust
it and bad men fear it. The power of the
newspaper is not the mere force Of printed
thought. It is the embodied power Of the
public life Of the day. Each reader feels that
he is surrounded by az unseen multitude who
are reading the same lines, and he grows ex-
cited with imagined responses. All forces Of
current history prove themselves through
the press. Force never remains idle. IL is
impossible that SO gigantic q force as the
American newspaper should exist without ex-
erting a corresponding influence upon the
characters, affairs and destinies Of the entire
people. All things educate as. Country,
climate, scenery and society, business and
pleasure and environment exert power on
our minds an9 characters. While few have
deeply considered the depth and extent OF
the influence of the newspapers, few will
deny it. A free press is necessary as the
complement Of free schools. Without schools
the press would lack readers. Without the
press
SCHOLARSHIP q FAIL
of half of its uses. The newspaper is 9 put
lie agent. II offers to the people for pay GER
tain services, and in this work as advertising |
agent and public herald it depends for its
support; but to reckon it only IS public en-
terprise would insult public intelligence as
as it would triae with public interests
and rights. In its public character the paper
enters into the rank Of the worlds teachers.
Education has two chief factors-culture or
discipline, and knowledge. The n comes
bY fit exercise or training the other by
furnishes information, by observ-
ance, by reflection, and most Of all by read
ing. With all our schools we could never be
intelligent people without newspapers.
They are the peoples libraries, the cyclopedia
Of the millions. Scholars and professional
men must read books; but woe, woe to them
if they read not the newspaper. Even the
fragmentary and ephvrneral character Of its
lends additional charms, If not add.
utility, to it. The freshness and var
iety of articles lure the reader on. It talks
TO men of their business, their political party,
their church, themselves. TIL men it de-
are their contemporaries, their neigh
bors. 1t thus adds something of dignity TO
their daily lives. The newspaper Of to-day