The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-26
A SIN oF THE PRESS.

the press-notably the 'blanket sheets OF the
larger cities-may be improved not to say re-
formed The consuming desire to get every
thing going has caused the publication of
matters of no possible interest to the public,
and the daily columns have become burdened
with the affairs of people even the existence
of whom is thing of not the slightest inter
est to paper readers. These in connection
with the punctilious publication Of insignifi-
cant happenings to even noted personages,
have lowered the dignity and deprecated the
practical value of newspapers. The cable, re-
Gently, was burdened with the momentous in
formation that the evangelist Moody had the
toothache, and was temporarily incapacitated
from attending tohis duties The vigilantre
porter went on to state that his coadjutor, Mr..
Sankey, had received dispatch from the great
preacher that he hoped to regain his wOnted
health and be able to resume his duties soon.
Enough importance was thus given this
trivial incident to have made it matter of mo-
ment for months From this it is not I'M
reasonable to expect that the condition of Mr..
Gladstone's corns will next be chronieled, and
the fact that President Grevy has crick in
his back will be cabled all over christendom.
A few days previous to the cablegram above
noted another conveyed the information that
Mr. Sankey missed one day on account of the
death of his father and the further startling
information was flashed from London to San
Francisco that Several local preachers would
assist in the meeting, probably having tooth
ache cramps and collie. These insignificant
data have no right to app ear before the eyes
of world busy with affairs of moment.
Sankey happen to miss one day from services,
nor whether their heads ache or their clothes
do not fit. If the meetings are progressing
satisfactorily and without opposition, it is
enough TO say so and stop.
On another day the intelligence was for
warded that some obscure one-sou sheet in
as 'nincompoop" Suppose it did, Does
anybody care what the BungtOwn Banner
says or thinks of public menu 1t would be
Just as sensible to cable to London that the
Snagsville Herald had unqualifedly de
nounced Mr.. Gladstone. American newspa-
pers too frequently criticise their transatlan-
tic contemporaries for lack of enterprise. If
ii he lack of enterprise to fail to transmit such
slush it is better they should be little con-
servative, have less and have only good Or SER
viceable.
But the press of the day sins still more in
another direction. Too much attention is
paid the doings of the criminal classes. Crime,
Of course must be reported and the perpe-
traitors pointed out. But after their cases
have been adjudicated they should be con
signed to oblivion in the interest of the
good of society. To daily read a bulletin of
the health Of Frank James inevitably carries
the impression that he is possessed of some
Importance, and that the public must have
some interest in his welfare. 1t has none at all.
Instead of employing tender words to awaken
sympathy and to tearfully note the devotion
of his wife, '"who will not consent to leave
his bedside" it would have been enough to
say, Frank James has consumption, and the
brigand will probably die" This would have
been 'Tbiutal, but it would have been better
inits effect upon a susceptible generation just
coming into mans estate. To say the least,
it is very unwise to liouize such a character,
and to promote him to an importance that is
not his Equally so of the infamous St'ulata
girl. She was the yeliest strumpet, browning
her life of shame with the crime of assassina-
tion Instead of burying her from the sight
of good people, in the interest of good morals
and docency, she is at once elevated, and her
every silly act recorded with a fidelity that
would be ridiculous were it not so offensive
to law and order, and to a proper selfre-
spect among the American people 1t was
finally given forth with great circumstantiali-
ty that this creature was about to take a course
in music, preparatory to going to Italy to
complete her musical education" 1t is pos
itiyely sickening to note this fragrant and
persistent advertising of a woman who will
probably realize on it by increasing the price
of her shame LET us have done with such
mnistering to crime aud to criminals Frank