Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-07-19
the PRESS.


information almost exclusively through
the medium Of the Press in this age Of pc
riodicsls and newspapers. The great ma
jority Of persons set in public matters up
on the best Information they have on these
ntJ"cts-support or reject measures OF
vital importance othr public veal through
the influence If the public Journals; hence
the enormous power and influence Of the
Press. In q government like onrs every
power is dangerous and should be vig-
lsntly guarded by the people, or else that
which was meant for their protection,
through the devices Of INSCRIPTIONS and
cunning men, will be turned into an in
srrument Of oppression and destruction
These very sources To which the people
look for information and guidance too often
use their power to blind aud misl,ad the
public, aud thus become the most danger
Gus en-mi-s Of the true Interest aud hest
welfare of the people. There is nothing
in which the people are more vitally inter
ested than in sustaining 4 free aud un-
trammrlled Pressure that is always
ready to give the cry Of alarm when the
least encroachment is made upon the rights
or liberties Of the people, aud that always
speaks out boldly aud fearlessly, and ex-
poses corruption aud wickrlness in what
ever party they may be found.
a "A e a.
own ideas on any and every matter Of pub
lie Importance, and not hamprrei by some
giant monopoly or great monied corpora
ton to which the paper is committed or
belongs aud whose pet schemes Of self
interest are To outweigh all other considr
rati"rs This, IL must he confessed, il too
frequently the case in this day aud time
These great nonird institutions under
stand we'll The great power of the Press,
Themselves of the aid of this great mnul.
der Of pnblic opinion. Journals are owned
and cont oiled 10y ipHnencrs that are hos
til- to the Interests If the people. Such a
Press, Instead Of. being blessing, is u
cutse-a dangerous enemy to the people,
aud it's danger is Increased by the fact that
it wears the mask Of friendship aud pro
fr-sehly is the devoted protector Of the
people, when in fact, beneath all these
pretensiOus, the prO,tiiutrd pen Of talent
aud Of genius is tailoring to dazzle aud
blind the public mind; aud while it pro
frsscs To greet with kiss, secretly stahs
with a poisoned dagger.
There il danger that these great monop-
olies aud rich corporations may exercise
to" great M Influence over our legislative
affairs, aud ~ aggravation Of the danger
arises from the fact that these institutions
own and control papers ably edited 10y
men of great talent aud ability. This
should not b., aud especially should the
people be- aware Of the fact " hen it is true
IL the people arr apprizrd nf the fact that
these Journals are the property of these
institutions whose interest they are advo-
eating, then is the power for harm bal
nuced. The people regards its uttcrances
only ~ the voice Of a hircing.
We have a high opinion Of the true mis-
sion of the Press. To correctly inform the
MASSES upon all questions of imIurtanceL
to frarlrssly discuss in the light Of truth
all measures Of pnblic interrst-to carry
light where there is darknr---io direct
great measures of progress ami refnrm-to
lead the march Of civilization, and lift hu,
manty upon higher plane. Such mis-
sion II worthy of the best energies aud
talent, and he who undertakes the work,
# he works to the true end, will not labor
in vain.
In these times the Press is nccpssity
There is IA demand for newspapers and the
demand must be supplied The people
viii no more be- coufrut without papers tn
read than they Will be contrnt without
bread to cat. There is much talk about
the lowtone and immoral Influence of the
Press, hnt those who have looked to the
bottom Of this complaint know that the
tone of the Press il pitched exactly To suit
the taste of its readers. If by advocating
what is high aud runobling journal found
more readers than 10y advocating what is
low and vicions, the columns of the srcu.
lar Press wnnld lie revolniionized in less
than week. This We ackho~ ledge is not
right. The Press has no business to pan
der to the popular cry. Ii should seek TO
create What is right and not to accomno-
date itself to the perverted taste of the
masses. Bnt it is unjust to hold the Press
rrspousihlc for the existence Of this low
state OF public taste. The Press finds it
and, in self-proteciion, must accommodate
itself to the taste Of the public. The de-
mand is for this kind Of literature, and
nothing else will satisfy the demand. The