The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-23
PUBLIC OPINION AND THE PRESS.
The Former Always the Master-News-
papers and Orators.

papers and Orators.
Address of Chauncey M. Depew.
| Public opinion is always the master. The
newspaper is strongest which best reflects it.
The whole press of the North could not have
subdued the indignant outburst at the firing
on Sumter or checked the grief at the death
of Garfield. The press interprets and en-
| forces doctrines and faiths, but is confronted
| by thousand forces if it attempts their over
throw. The traveller in the Western Reserve
of Ohio asked a farmer about the times
Dad enough" said he; my Democratic
neighbor got his newspaper yesterday and
| fioored me completely this morning, but
when the Weekly Tribune comes Saturday,
and have read old Greeley, will wipe him
out"
1t has become common to claim that the
press has superseded the pulpit annihilated
the orator, relegated to the realm of tradition
the picture of the listening senate" which
has fired to high ambition the youth of pre-
ceding generations, and so elevated and edu-
Gated the masses, that great men and great
leaders, the Websters, Clays and Calhouns of
the past will never more appear. But moth
ing can take the place of the spoken word,
the magnetism and thrill, the nameless COM
binations of power and personality by which
the speaker sways his audience and leaves
impressions which follow to the grave.
Exceptionally great men have disappeared
from American public life and the dreary
produces an Unsuitable longing for the
free vigor of the newspaper articles of
which it is a thin peraphrase. How
many congressional orators are there the
announcement of whose names for a speech
at Cooper Institute would fill the hall, and
whose utterances would command the full
attention of the press? The position of rep
resentative gives no social distinction, while
the time required to properly fill the functions
of legislating for fifty millions of people ruins
the opportunities for professional or business
success The Websters and Claws and Cal
houns are editing newspapers, practicing law
or controlling the great business enterprises
of the times. But the press has not made
the existence OF such men impossible. They
exist in England and in France. While free
press exists, monopoly is not possible, 1t can
disperse the most courageous combination
and brighten the largest capital. Under its
assaults moving to action the people and
every agency of government, the inevitable
issue is reformation, dissolution, or
center which to-day failed to reflect
i public opinion and protect the public inter-
ests, would be followed tomorrow by new
issues meeting the popular demand and re-
ceiving the popular support. The country
press lives and thrives, Notwithstanding the
overshadowing influence of the great metro
| politan journals 1t was never so vigorous,
able and independent as it is to-day. By the
very law of its being, in its perfect freedom,
| the press teaches the teacher; instructs the
scientist and runs the government. The
| present generation has not the robust vigor
of the last Spend one day among the old
files, and then an hour with our great metro
politan journals, and it will do more than
all else to cure sentimental regrets for the
good old times, and promote tnanksgivlngs
| for the intellectual life and light of the nine
tenth century.