Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-12
THE SECULAR PRESS.


The progress OF the modern newspaper has
been so great that it has almost supplanted
the political speaker. Everybody now reads
the newspapers, and ii here in Tennessee
candidates for governor should undertake
six months canvass, as was the custom of
other days, they would find themselves re-
peating stale and WORKOUT facts, as the press
had long since anticipated their utterances.
And now the newspapers are making inroads
upon the religious weeklies, as the secular
dallies leave them but little that is new TO
publish. In fact, the secular press has SO in
vaded the field that religious papers are
no longer the sole and chief paper that is
read BY ministers and church members.
This is favorable omen, for the secular
press is characterized by greater enterprise
and independence, greater breadth OF view
and freedom OF criticism in every depart
ment of thought and life, than can be found
in the church journals. Hence, the religious
newspaper is, like the public speaker, not the
power it once was, as the opinions and
the matter it publishes have long since been
anticipated by the secular press, which is
fast taking its place just as it has made
long canvass for governor the work of super
erogation. This fact suggests tremendous
responsibilities upon the secular press, and
it seems to be equal to the emergency, for it
is almost impossible to take up newspaper
without finding an article on religious mat
ters, which in other days was regarded as
appropriate only for the discussion OF the
religious journals. AS evidence of the gen.
aral tone of the secular press, and the posi-
bility Of its superseding the religious week
lies, we give the following magnificent edi-
toriaI from the Brownsville Democrat, written
seen that the rude hand OF misfortune, which
has recently smitten him, has opened the
sweetest treasures OF his heart: -ss-
Christianity Is The golden harp of the ages. Its
chords are swept by the fingers OF mighty nations
Wherever the anthem is hy1nned there is light and
love and civilization-peace in the and security
sevation-a safe harbor after LIES storms, but it
is also the hRndmaiden of science and the fruitful |
hSppy In he's a on erh With The sound
the golden harp is heard the busting feet Of mil
tudinous machinery OF the christian sons Of labor
How grand is the result How incalculable its |
appearance in a dead world and in the |
midst of a decaying and ellete civilization. |
with worse than physical Ieprosy Of moral creed |
or code. Right and wrong were such near neigh
virtue were neutrality-suspicious. terms, and worn
out, brszen luxury, and wild license enchanted
hariot OF poetical literature, haa more than liz
eral veriheaton In classic life. Gree, clothed in
Of warm aliurins charms, Tapped the souls of men
in debasing deliriurn Of ecstasy from which they
the conquerors lust the thirst OF military glory
II dead world, filled with dying |
Dq ana Ant 1b ss e[ II n a89 tote d
sown, planted in blood and tears on
SsyGrySs r awI9 h summit It was ,d hl%sIs s IL
vas the germ Of bright and wonderful hope. u
promised the life TO come, and ennobled the HE
ecution ragged but it bloomed amid. the horrid
torms Of blood and tears with the perennial fresh
ness which showed its heavenly birth In the
ract of bal barisn devastation, on battle blasted
plains, and on the sites where ran the plowshare
pfang up this humble christian flower, growing
n the hoof-narks of the wsrhorse, and COW
inward. reaching humanity with its benign
more enlightened, smoothing the pathway OF
progress and inspiring the sons OF toll with
tally cares and filing their souls with the
onsoling hope of blissful existence beyond the
rave. 1t has made its borders 10 contain all that
great or desirable on the earth's surface. Hap
'ness, enlishtmeat, progress and Iaatehless might
leard and no where else in this world of ours
Is benefits in a temporal sense are beyond human
or calculation: Is IL necessary to de-
end this mighty system from its puny enemies2
10 s 81 me sp Wbareor Seed tben tbe
Inc spun theories of infidels and materiaists who
Ii their ingenious warp and woof shines in unini-
laired glory the steady light of ehristianity-the
lope and anchor OF q dying world.
This il the tone which pervades the secular
press in all parts of the country. Nearly all
be great daiIies in the United States now
ublish Sunday editions, containing not only
he current news, but original and selected
matters bearing upon all the leading topics
ry or scientific. These topics are discussed
rom a journalistic standpoint. The dis
ussion ia not always profound or exhaustive,
Il. it is intended to be Ineligible, and to
raw out the sentiments of the public. Such
rticles are not for the highly educated few,
ut for the reading masses. The consequence
!, that most of what people know concerning :
he most interesting and important questions
the day is derived from this source. A 4
reat newspaper nowadays represents great
apital. Its proprietors, setting principle
side altogether, cannot afford to weaken {
ny OF the healthy restraints which wis {
ON and experience have imposed upon
,ciety. They have their all at stake
pom the public peace and prosperity, and ]
lose cannot exist when the restraints are re-
oved On the other hand, As history proves
lat the greatest danger to society lies in the
.uorance of the many-making them the |
illing tools of the few-the popular educa-
on which modern journalism provides is
rejection to the social structure. It strength
rs its weakest point, the foundation, by rem
sring perilous popsar deluAons, if not i'm
ossible, at least shz3ft-liyed. Itteaches the .
eople not only to do their own thinking, but
stand guard over themselves. 1t is at
nee guide. philosopher and friend;" and {
Jay safely be trusted in the most critical
nergency Modern journalism is not fault r
IS by any ueans, but its faults are Of the !
cad rather than the heart, and seldom very g
.rious. If the fsult-fnder would only search
n and point out the merits they might help
cure much OF which they complain. I