The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-05-30

lay, Euglduu Will tuiuk to-tuof-
row. With more force and apt |
hess We may say of our country
that what the American press
thinks to-day, will be the national
conviction tomorrow and eons;itu- /
tional law next week. In a recent |
letter declining to become candi-
date for parliament from the ancient
burrough OF Leicester, Herbert
Spencer, the distinguished scientist
uttered these significant words:
at is becoming common remark
that we aie approaching state in
which laws are practically made ont
Of doors, and simply registered In
parliament; and il so, then the ac-
tual work Of Legislation is more the
work Of those who modify the idesrs
of the electors, than of those who
give effect to their ideas.' That is
true OF American civil and political
life. And the out-ot-door influence
that NEST nightly wields public
opinion and formulates principles
that find statutory expression in
our legislation, is the American
press. Aud into the adminlstra-
ton OF these laws its influence goes,
yertebrating or intimidatiug the
judge on the bench, aud inspiring
or covering the jury 10 the box.
Again let us consider Journalism
ia Its relations to language and lit-
erature. We owe something to our
mother tongue. An influential jour-
nal Is more or less the guardian Of
our Anglo Saxon language, and an
instructor In its ready and skillful
hse. Upon IL rests IN a large meas.
ure, the responsibility OF right edu
cation, in y pure aud forcible style
OF expression. 1t is related of the
elder Bennett, the founder Of the
New York Herald, that he thus all.
dressed an aspiring young Journal.
ist just entering tho profession
"Young man you seem to think that
the province of the newspaper is to
instruct and improve. You are
mistaken, 1t Is to astonlsh and
amuse.' And In that dictum he has
been followed by u numerous gen.
GRAFTON. They have eagerly seized
upon 1t aud emblazoned 1t as the
lofty motto of their journalistic Ga
reer. But In the face Of u history
so remarkable, and an enterprise
80 successful, l submit that such
doctrine chcapens aud degradeI
the high mission Of the press. No
does his own mammoth and might,
Herdld-a very marvel OF undaunt
ell eDterprise--sustain his assertion
What other columns so TEEN wit
news from all lands aud clines
What other leaders more signal.
: display the classic grace Of Add
son, with the epigrammatic fresh
ness OF Prentice aud the sturd.
strength Of Carlyle, that master o
letters, who hss been facetiousl.
called u "trip.hammer with an Eo
lian attachmentf' Yet some edit
0rs seem to think II an expression
of journalistic genius to employ
mongrel vocabulary. Now | do no
advise q stuid stiffness and slmno
lent dullness of style, that meri
! and prophesy a SPEEDY funeral an'
"a place in the cemetery Of mwspa
perdom, already crowded with th
tombs OF III tated enterprises. Their
must he vivaclty, vivIdness an
vigor-the sparkle and FRESHNESS
, of practical thought-to commsrn
|, readers aud achieve success. Pro
sale precision is an enemy to still
ring effect and ''penetrating enel
gy." But Oh the contrary, coarse
! ness and slang, slovenly by word
! and impure expletives, are to b
avoided as degrading to the digu
|, ty of the profession aud corruptin
to our pure idiomatic English.
. Again let us consider journals
= in Its relations to private characte
q rejoice in the untrammelled fire
: dom of the press, but lament al
: single instance of degeneracy in
: license. Public men in their oflici
4 relations and history are legitima
" subjects Of discussion and criticisI
They are public servants, aud ha'
.. no right to shrink or finch und
:, any fair arraignment OF their Of
cial record. But their private liv
|; are as sacred, and should be as re
. erently respected as the most sh'
= !, tered iireside in the land.