Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-01

Give TO the prevaienco OF its opin
ion chaos and darkness. When its opinion
does not prevail, when, nevertheless, the
order Of nature is undisturbed, society
seems safe. and chaos and darkness are in
definitely postponed the leader is left in an
awkward, not to say humiliating, position.
Yet the necessity for convictions" remains,
and, the restless round of vehement assertion
and dogmatic denunciation continues.
The most astonishing activities of journal
ism of this type are displayed during periods
Of political excitement. What must a dis
interested observer think of the work" done
by newspapers at such times-not merely by
campaign sheets, but by journals which are
ranked in the first class, as especially
adapted to familiesi a paper which Is not
consumed by a sense of responsibility for the
opinions Of mankind will present its views
with at least the appearance of candor and
moderation. Although its case may be one
sided it will wear an air of discrimination,
and suggest a catholic and Judicial temper
On the contrary paper overburdened with
with convictions of its own adopts the worst
manners of tie partisan whose function 1t
usurps. Little need be said in amplitcation
of this statement, because there Is capital
illustration of the tendency of this type of
journalism only a few months old. Ii the
people of this country could endure such a
journalistic experience as that of the can
vass Of 1884 without feeling the necessity OF
a course of sackcloth and ashes, nothing can
move them to such voluntary modification.
To say that the work done By the partisan
press could convince the reason would be an
insult to the human understanding.
To suppose that it could influence
the emotions would be 10 take for granted
that intelligence had ceased to regulate
emotion in the conduct of life. When per-
sonalities take the place of reasoning from
principles, when copiousnesS of vituperation
and variety of epithet are employed to con-
ceal incapacity for argument, when instead
Of discussing public questions, journal
finds its most grateful emeioyment in print
ing things that are intended to caricature
the traits of individuals, to irritate them
and to annoy their families, and to accom-
plish nothing else, when this small practice
is applied not to candidates merely, who
may be said to invite such attacks, but to
every body on the other side, we may well
ask whether we might not be glad to ex-
change the aggressive convictions of a
.leader Of opinion" for newspaper resem-
bling The London Times, which is content
10 mirror tne thought Vi the houir anu "
which such atrocities are never committed
The American press has made marked
advance since it cut loose from confessed
party organship, but that there is yet long
way for it to go is demonstrated by the
Blaine Cleveland campaign. | am not with
out hope of living long enough to see even
in the United States a stage of journalistic
evolution reached beyond what The London
Times itself has attained; when great
urnal will reflect opinions as it reports facts;
when it will not feel constrained to adopt
any body of doctrine; when its functions
shall be purely critical-critical of to-day's
topics-and when it will be under no greater
necessity to support" a party, or a candi'
date. or an administration than a book, or
an actor, or a singer Such, l think, will
be the newspaper of the future.