Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-16

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Nj. CH,rLas DrpLEl WAKyKR's essay
on the American newspaper read before
the Sorial Science Association at Sara
toga Springs last September, 10 before
the public in book form. 1t 10 IKE
everything else OF Mr.. WARMERS, very
bright and interesting, and Also mas
some axaggoranons and distortions. A
few practical hints from the essay are
worthy OF observance:
We have heard" I've says, "a great
deal about the power, the opportunity,
the duty, the mission OF the press !he
time has come Tor q more philosophical
treatment of it, for an inquiry into lts
relations 10 our complex civilization, LOT
some ethical account OF it as one OF the
developments OF our day, and Tor soma
discussion oil the effect 1t is producing,
and likely to produce, on the education
Of the people. ! have thought that 1t
NAV not be Improbable to treat the
newspaper from a practical and even
somewhat mechanical point OF view.
The recognition of the fact that the
newspaper is private and purely Dusi-
ness enterprise, will help to dehne the
mutraI relations OF the editor AMI the
public. His claim upon the p1oHc IS
exactly that ui any manufacturer or
dealer. II is that OF the man who makes
cloth, or the grocer who opens a shop;
neither has 4 right to complain IL the
Ibjir loes not buy OF him. III the buy
~ does not like cloth hall shoddy' OF
C Zee halt cliccory, he will go elsewhere.
|; the subscriber does not like one news
pIper, he takes another, or none. Inc
public has no rights in the newspaper
except what no pays for; even the old
subscriber has none except 10
drop the paper il it ceases
10 please him. The notion that the
subscriber has right TO interfere IN the
conduct Of the paper, or the reader TO
direct its opinions, is based on the ms
conception Of what the newspaper II.
The claim OF the public 10 have its COM
municatiOns printed IN the paper Is
equally baseless. Whether they be
printed or not rests in the discretion oil
the editor. having reference to his own
private interest, and to his apprehen
sion of the public good. Nor is he bound
10 1--WE any reason for his refusal. No
one has a right to demand it. Courtesy
and policy may grant it; but the right
20 DO it does not exist. The advertiser
acquires no more rights in the news
paper than the subscriber. He is
entitled to use the space for which he
paws hy the insertion OF such material
as is approved by the editor. He gains
no interest in any other part 81 the
paper, and has no claim 10 any space IN
the editorial columns, than any other
one ofthe public
Mr.. Warner is disposed to underate
the power OF the press and says: i
confess that | am ottener impressed
with the powerlessness OF the press
than otherwise, its slight intrrn"e IN
bringing about any reform, OF 4 lntuc'
iug the public to do what IA To. its own
good anu what il is disircIined To DO.
II is perfectly true hat q great journal
may keep somewhat IN advance OF the
public sentiment; but il can not safely
ioIlow any other tendencies than
those which the masses are pursuing.
The highest junction Of newspaper is
to publish all the news; the next highest
TO precelye with unerring judgment the
currents which the thought and opinion
Of the great public are following, and 10
act a. pilot i'll guiding the people in
the channel which they themselves have
chosen. in the pulpit, in the ioruto, in
the halls O.: legislation, and in the press,
the great headers OF public Opin'
ion" are those who are able
to preceivc earliest the course
which the masses are taking, and who
throw themselves with the greatest 7iGor
and bollnpss into the race. Newspa.
pers may lead and marshal public oPin'
ion. hut they cannot command 1t. II
they attemp, that task, and seek to
direct pnDlic sentiment in path which
they have marked out, they will most
surely be repudiated by the public and
left without influence and without sup
port.