Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-08
ITS TRUE MISSION.

! tne " dJtOH ueClares tnaL the power Vi tue
English press is declining. 1t is not less
read :; on the contrary it is more read than
ever before, read more by women, read
more by all classes, has increased in cireu-
lation and in moneymaking capacity.
But though it is more read, it has less in
fiuence Men are less disposed than in
times gone by to shape their opinions by
its expression, much less to conform in &C.
ton to its advice. &c. if a newspaper in
England to-day deprecates or sustains any
given line of policy, it makes far less diff
ference to the fate of that policy than
heretofore. Now the correspondent ad-
mits that the English press is no less able,
no less upright than in the past Is it
simply because the people do not conform
their lines of conduct according to its
dogmatic direction? The probabilities are
that the facts recited, on analysis, will
disclose that they arise out of the growing
independence of thought of the English.
man. He is approaching nearer and nearer
| to the American idea. The American press
cannot direct; it never assumes command.
| There is no press that speaks with govern
mental authority, or that indicates by its
utterances the line OF policy the Admins.
tration will pursue on given subject. The
American reads his morning paper for news
he takes it's suggestions for just what they
are worth, measured by his own judgment
with Just such force as the editorial argu-
ments address themselves to him, he gives
them consideration, and no more. There is
not newspaper in the United States to. day
! that would dare to assume the position of
| commanding the citizen in theway he should
| 90. All this is the result, in part at least,
of the education of the people by the press.
1t has done as much, il not more, than any
other agency to make the citizens of the
country independent thinkers and now
they are becoming independent voters.
But in fact, the press has lost no strength
with the growth of the idea of in
dependence. England is approaching
this condition more closely. The people
{ are doing their own thinking with less fear
OF the London press than before. Then,
too, as the correspondent referred to him
self points out, the outside press has d.
yided not only the patronage with the
London papers, but has divided also the
boldness and freedom of expression, and
SO it comes that the Londoner finds his city
! journal, which was once held to be infalli-
BILE, is taken to task, found in error,
sharply criticised ands often rebuked by
provincial sheets and the dailies of other
| cities. So he comes to lose something of
trust in his old mentor, and to be led him.
self into positions OF criticism he before
seldom assumed. One fact cited by the
writer for the Nation must not be over
looked. Review and magazine literature
is no longer impersonal. The gifted
writers for the periodicals over their own
names address the people, and make them
the judges of the question debated. This
puts the reader into the critical attitude,
and very naturally he comes to sit in
judgment also upon what was once his
morning oracle. All this is beneficial to
the press in England, just as it is here. 1t
gives greater strength to journalism IN fact,
for it puts it upon its merits it cultivates
greater independence of thought in the
reader, and, as a natural result, makes him
stronger in intellect. So the press is &C.
complishing precisely its proper mission,
for the results we have recapitulated must
contribute to the virtue, intelligence, pros
perity and moral tone OF people. Pre-.
! csely what the citizen should do he is now
doing, not depending on the editor to tell
him what course to pursue, but reading
what is advanced in support of any propo-
sition, and then acting as his own judg-
ment shall dictate to be best, The highest
mission of the press to-day is to inform,
instruct and advocate, not to dictate, drive
or browbeat. All attempts to do either
generally results in signal failure.