Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-21

the public speaker, and a natural,
even pardonable jealousy, exists in
tho breast Of the latter. Ministers
are especially prone to exhibit "a dis
position to lessen the influence of the
power that overshadows them" "A
severe but just comment on the sensa-
tional newspapers which ransack
the sewers = = < for mOrsels of
filthy scandals is quoted from a ser
mon recently delivered in New York
by the Rev. DR.. Collyer. The editor
agrees with the minister but speaks
poinafds'' when he says, There is a
general fonduess for stories, salacious
tales, and filthy reports Of crimes and
i~ndecencies. All the obscenity which
the disgusting trial of Beecher aud
other ministers furnished the public
are read with eager curiosity. Such
literature causes the youthful mind to
become corrupted, the imagination
diseased, the purity of thought and
life departs at once and forever from
the sanctuary of the heart and home"
Yet the publishing of all manner OF
crime is defended on the ground that
it is the duty of the newspaper to pub
lish the news. The editor says: 1.-The
news of horrid crimes may be unpala-
table, but if the press did not show
the iniquity Of the world, preachers
would not know where to attack the
enemy, and parents would not be able
to warn their children against vices
about which they know nothing. In
reading a newspaper the reader must
always make his own selection. ard
for that selection he is responsible"
With this sentiment we take issue
Merely because some filthy, indecent
fact is Jews we do not believe hat it
should be discussed, even privately
much less published broadcast to the
world. Let us repeat the argument
of the Appeal in a different shape. Ia
many Of our large cities are stores in
which the public can purchase al
manner of commodities from groceries
to clothing--from books and sheet
music to hardware and house furni b
ing goods. Suppose one of these mer-
chants were to add a gambling hell to
his establishment and offer the defence
that "the purchaser must always make
his own selection and for that selee-
ton he is responsible The ease is
parallel, the logic the same, the
position just as defensible. Mr.
Edward r. Roe, in a prize essay
on the Liberty Of the Press
Its Uses and Abuses" attacks this
position in forcible language. He
says: Gas teachers Of public morals
by precept, writer's for the press are,
as a rule, not only above reproach, but
altogether just. With Solomon they
say: Enter not into the path of the
wicked, aud 60 not into the way Of
evil men, But many of these same
teachers will straightway fill their
columns with hepaths fthe wicked,
and will seek by all the seductive arts
of accomplished writer's, to lure their
readers into the ways of evil men.
To so great an extent is this true, that
many Of the most widely circulated
newspapers keep their readers daily
immersed in an atmosphere Of iniquity,
so that their columns have become
the normal schools Of al evil. The
demoralizing detail5 of the criminal
courts, the doings of all the dens Of
iniquity, the feats Of all men and
women pre- eminent in crime, the
very language of the depraved and
%depraving, are produced Ia the daily
papers which find their way into
almost every household. Words which
none dare utter in decent society, and
deeds which ever their vile authors
seek to hide, are rehearsed in the free
press as daily lessons to thousands
who would otherwise be wholly IN
familiar with such teachings. That
familiarity of vice which all are hui
compelled to suffer; must needs from
the law Of association lead many to.
FIRST endure, then pity, then I'm
brace"
And is this debased pressthe leeit-
innate %outgrowth Of our boosted free
dom Of speech and Of the press2' Is it
pot, rather, 2 gross abuse of that free
dom which was originally intended for
higher purposes2 Some Of the daily
journals which have been the greatest
offenders admit the evils here cen
dsnned, but justify the conversion Of
their columns into mirrors Of all evil
on the ground that newspapers must
print whaL the public demands.in