Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-26
Lewiston Journal.
THE NEWSPAPER IN THE CAM

Lewiston journal.
THE NEWSPAPER IN THE CAM
PAIGN.
Much has been said OF the various factors
of success In the recent political campaign
Ia Maine. The newspapers have modestly
attributed IL TO organization; to this, that
and the other; but We have seen no men,
ton OF the important services OF the Re-
publican newspapers. In the campaign of 80
and so, the opposition made specially OF
flooding the State with soft money litera-
ture and newspapers, and II was agreed at
that time that In this matter they stole.
march on the Republicans.
At the beginning OF the present cam.
paign the Republican State Committee
wisely recalled the experience OF two
years ago, and Republicans generally CO.
operated In the work OF disseminating
truth on printed pages. The newspaper
discussion OF the Maine issues has been
very thorough and very widely read. In
deed, 1t has been mainly newspaper cam
paign, so far as the argument went: for
while the newspaper campaign began In
May, the talking campaign opened less than
four weeks before election.
The fact Is that the newspaper Is becom-
ing the leading factor in the evolution Of
public opinion. The Newspaper Is called to
account for its blunders; its logic Is rid
died; its statements are not made In cor
ner. II 1t Is true, IL can generally make
people believe 1t. II the opposition news
paper Is In the wrong, the organ Of the
other side can hold its errors up in the
white light OF truth. There is time for the
reader 10 digest as well as TO read. In
Word ha no III ri 10
a perpetual witness to ITSELF 1t Is q good
thing to get parties down in black and
white.
Then, too, as the years increase, the
newspaper becomes more necessity, be-
cause it Is In all respects better and more
carefully and wisely edited. The newspa-
per begins to know that 1t Is held respon-
sible for what 1t says, and that epithets
and offensive personalities are not convert
ing arguments. The newspapers OF Maine
have been Immensely improved during the
last twenty-five years, both editorially and
newsily. Hence, they command vastly
more respect than formerly; they arc more
attentively and thoughtfGlly read; they
now not only reach larger number,
There are but very few papers OF either po-
IIiSai otuC III uhoinC uaVC OIllLLtu u,
observe that this is the year Of g;soe lsaa.
Now and then, to be spre, there may be
found an exception, but the rule Is that
trash and buncomb and blarney are shrink.
ing In newspaper volume, and are replaced
by honorable and fair discussion. This
fact helps to explain why 1t Is that the
campaign service Of Maine newspapers In
the contest just ended, must have been an
invaluable contribution to the last tally OF
the State. 4 single newspaper like the
Journal, for instance, probably has regu.
larly reached from one-third to one half of
the voters Of Maine during the recent can
vass, and the Journal Is but one of MANY.
The political meetings will not average 10
reach over 500 voters while single news.
paper may reach from fifty to one hundr cd
times more, Hence, while not uuderyalu.
ing any OF the many elements Of Republi.
can success In the recent canvass In Maine
we may agree that the newspaper has been
an efficient co-worker, and that any polit.
ical organization which neglects to recog.
nize this fact, especially IL 1t is the wrong
party, Is liable to get very badly cleft"