, 1882-11-18
The Influence Of Journalism.

While great many people are unvi'i-
ing to admit tasi lvsrrai-lic eiOr: ear-
ries any particular weight, a great num-
Der. and j. includes editors as vel as peo-
ple in the other walks OF life, are contend
ing that the importance OF the newspa-
per, a. an influencing force, cannot be e1-
sgLerated. The first are not logical, be-
iag those who nest earnestly censure the
journal If il takes Il course in opposition
u their views. Ii it is OF no Importance,
does no, carry particular weight, Why
bother yourself about = change IN It's
vieRsl The secoud class are no nearer
right. Journalists are not nearly Is I'M
pur,aut IS they Try 10 make the world be-
heve There is a happy medium, and
journalists should learn TO accept Il as
the truth IL rs way, the public is use
full 20 the journalist. In his way, the
journalist is useful to the public, and how
far that extends depends entirely upon
the individual aud the community. When
We consider t!-at in the newspaper, ali
matter of general concernmen, Is dis
cussed time and again in each issue and
under every conceivable aspect. and every
psper, as 1t passes from hand TO hand,
has a member Of readers, other than sub
scribers. II viii be readily apparent that
impressions upon the public mind VIII be
made. How strong these are, depends
upon the statement OF facts. Humanity
/ has 4 natural instinct for truth, and the
( journalist must pay tribute 10 it, If he
would Convince; il he would influence.
/ We do not believe that the more news
! papers We have, the stronger Will be the
control of public opinion. There are al
( ways IN each county, outsias tie large
cities, journal, perhaps two, which are
I distinctive rs rulICg- and the establishment
ol 4 dozen others Will net, in any hurtiul
degree, change public opinion as TO the
wei,ht OF ,he first. The leading articles
OF these distinctive ruling journals, are
aiWays read and studied, ard DO undoubt-
edly influence public opinion, while the
dcta of the man, who, outside of his off
ce, is always talking about the . devil, y
/ the Wild demands fo2 copy" and his
overwork," IS received with doubt and
more often derision- All trades hare
their mistakes, ard Their coaiplaints, and
/ these idealess idiots arc no exception.
Newspaper WORK is plain. methodIcai anc
practical as any other calling, and onlT
fresh fools endeayor to plunge 1t into an
atmosphere OF obscurIty or mystery.
! The real jpurnai, that Ons il which the
editor aud TIE pab!.c lGeet or general
| ground, las an influence, and lis defec-
I ton or adhesion does make e difference
IN the r,snlt of things OF public nature;
elections FOR iatan.s, Candidates have
been wreckedon the point Of single
paragraph, ard whole counties ii &c;
States have been transferred in their at
t;tude upcn pending con;roy rsIes, by e
single newspaper article. But ii order
To- hold tbs influence, character IL Jour
uahsm must have somewhat moEe tG rest
upon than the naTrow recItatIyr y ;ele-
I -rsn,s ard reporting. and even exposition +;
lt mus; pdrpuse = higher role than - echo
back cNistin: seutlnt Mt, wheih-: good -
bad. There must be fell that moral re-
/ gard for, ani responsibility IL the wo-k.
( Each journ-l in i,s own sphere Of ac'lV-
ny. and within the radius Of rs !mmediate
,folt must establish fo- itself, the name
/ up,a which u rest its lifewOiE. Ih's
calls for caudidness. courage, Consistency,
fairness to friends a'.d foes, fellowship
with freedom unbrr all oppression, for
/ con,cieuca t. stare the truth, and earnest
ness that measures correctly. and the ri2-
: teryri that takes tae initiative. The
right things nT-t he said in a strong way,
. 1t The Consequences te - th"y may