The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-06-09
The Great Newsnaney.

In an address before The Brool,,.
rresoytery Rev. j. NJ. Sherwood said.
~ is well to bear in mind tbat thn
rehgious weekly is no LONGER the cola
OF ehlef paper that is read bv ministoro
anu church members. The daily co.,
,ar press has invaded the field, and il
. areauy omnipresent, and almost sn.
tGne as an educational power, not on
| y ~ inc State, but in the Church. and
ior ene most part, it is characterized hy
grea.er enterprise and independence
sLea'er breadth OF uiew and freedom ~
criiicism IN every department of tbonabt
ana me- than we find in orr cbnroh
journals. Hence, the religious weelIlvof
to-uay-as every man of discernment ord
oroau observation knows-is not tba
power II once was; its opinions bano
httie weight; its policy and nrjnoinioe
scarcely affect the religious ibaunb, PIES p,eS
nro. Oh !, Today, while the daily s Secular
press Is last taking its place, and cain.
,ng .ne ears and hearts of the peonla
AM. making its way into every bonse'
nolu every day OF the week, not excent
inS even the Sabbath; full of informo
ton ready In discussion; fearless al
most unbridied in criticism. reviewinr
Every current question and phase az
me- secular social, political and rolo;.
ous' thereby educating and controllina
the great world by its potent forces and
importing the very existence Of nnr
comparatively feeble and sbackIed ra
ligious weeklies. The chance is 90 49, u
velous as it is sudden. II was easu 70
Pnllosophize upon the causes which
have produced it, but it is impossible to
the effects of it on the RELIGIONS
sentiments and character of the nevt
generation. The fact, however sn%'
sests tremendous possibilities. ;,
Nearly all the great dailies in tb;o
country now publish Sunday editions
not only the current nows
Out original and selected matters hoor
ng upon all the leading topics If tho
line. These topics, sacred or secnlar
ire discussed from the Journalists ~
popular standpoint. The discussion is
lot always profound, and necessarily
'annot be exhaustive; but it is intended
o De, ana ge Jgsallly ia de";slr 1lar nIne-
enths of what the people know con-
,erning the most interesting and inn
,ortant questions of the day is derived
from this source. A great newspaper
represents great capital. Its
setting principle aside al
together, cannot afford to weaken any
Of the healthy restraints which wisdom
and experience have imposed upon So
ciety. They have their all at stake up
IN the public peace and prosperity, and
hose cannot exist when the restraints
are removed.
On the other hand, as history proves
hat the gravest danger to society lies
n the ignorance of the many-making
hem the willing tools of the few the
education which modern jour-
nalism provides is protection to the
social structure. 1t strengthens its
weakest point, the foundation, by rend-
ering perilous popular decisions, if not
impossible, at least short-lived. 1t
teaches the people not only to do their
own thinking, but to stand guard over
1t is at once guide, phil
osopher and frend;" and may be safely
trusted in the most critical emergency.
Modern journalism is not faultless by
any means, but its faults are OF the
head rather the heart. and seldom very
serious. II the fault-iinder would only
search for and point out the merits they
MIGHT help to cure much of which they
complain. ST Louis Republican.