The Wilmingtonian., 1883-06-23
JOSEPH COOK AND THE PRESS.


with humanity, the more
ieeply do we become impressed with the
fact, at is human to err
The wise in their wisdom, as well as the
unwise in their unwisdom, reach wrong
The errors of the wise pass
as philanthropy with the multitude, as tru-
ly as do their most correct inductions.
1t is our intention to place before our
readers attempting to demonstrate their
fallacy, some utterances of distinguished
men of to-day.
Joseph Cook, the learned lecturer of Bos-
ton, recently made this assertion: sit will
not be long before the manager Of great
newspaper will have as much power as
Cabinet Minister"
The gentleman seems to have regarded
this as a remarkable discovery. In 1t he has
shown very decided ignorance of most
important factor of modern life; and that is
the power of the press. This power is seen
and felt in every journal that is published
itincreases in proportion to the journals
circulation. The power Of the great news
papers is second to no existing power in the
world.
This is an accomplished fact; not an I'M
solved problem of the future.
The most admirable features of Mr.. Cook
Is writings are their sobemess and matur-
ity.
Upon this point he has, however, been
betrayed into hasty and inconsiderate re-
mark,
The paragraph is very agreeable combi-
nation of words. 1t has pleasant sound.
For this reason Mr.. Cook must have made
it. Its rashness is easy proven.
The manager of every truly great news.
paper has far more power than any Cabinet
Minister. His power is real, actual, tangi-
BILE, present, and not prospective.
A great newspaper is the exponent of the
feeling, passions, and the thought of the
times.
Its eniightening streams are poured into
the minds of hundreds of thousands of
| readers.
1t is the centre, the very school of the
current philosophy of the period.
1t has at times millions of the truest adj
herents.
| 1t is the authorized expression Of the SEN
| timents sometimes of half a nation,
Its patrons are philosophers just to the
extent that it is.
| Its admirers advocate the same men and
measures that it does.
Its people elect those men to power and
position that it supports.
Throughout large portion Of the civil
lied world it is regarded as a universal nee
essity.
1t is a positive power, and is capable o.
accomplishing more than can half the Cab
met ministers of Europe.
The Cabinet minister. considered per see,
is not power He is simply an instrument
of power. He is constituted such by tn,
fact that maj rity Of his national council
holds the same political opinions as himself
The majority of the national council elected
by the disciples, supporters, and believers
of certain newspapers.
The great papers create the Cabinet min
listers.
The creature cannot be greater than th
creator.
The Cabinet minister is the servant o
those who hold the actual power. He il
their authorized agent. His power is no
} inherent but delegated. He is the one in
strument Of the many Instruments Of powe
authrized and created by the seat of powe
} the great paper.
Men by common consent allow their new
organs to be their mentors.
, The press does the thinking of the world
} Mankind not only allows, but prefers t
have the papers do their reasoning.
. The press makes public its doctrines, an
5 its adherents support them.
) 1t makes and unmakes public opinion.
, 1t manufactures sentiment. Public sent
: ment makes and unmakes all political offic
t and officers.
. The Cabinet minister is one solitary il
i strument of power.
: The great paper has as many instrument
b as it has readers.
h The Cabinet minister has authorit
o which is power in the abstract.