, 1885-03-31

men and journals that change their opinions,
but adapts itself to new circumstances and
views as realty rs the polished surface 10
produces the passing panorama OF the street.
1t never h~esitates and 1t never Apologies
So II happens that the great London news
paper grows deeply in English son. because
II is no more cast down by political changes
than the British oak Is destroyed by the
variations of the weather. The sunshine of
summer and the storms of winter, to which
Il submits itself with equal alacrity, serve
alike to tougher its fiber and strengthen its
roots. What has the oak to do with Hviews"
ON the cumatef
The intenser type OF Journalism which pre-.
walls in America produces results the OPP
posite Of these Our first-class newspaper
never loses its sense OF responsibility for
things 1t conceiyes that 1t must have con
victions on every detail of the affairs Of the
universe, and 1t must maintain them with
out variableness or shadow Of turning. II
convictions Of proper sincerity and passion
ateness cannot be had for the asking there
must be, at least, a pretense Of belief, IN af-
fection OF faith. The necessity accounts for
the n~oisiness and clhmor and accompanying
emptiness which characterize some Of our
most widely celebrated j~ournalS A news
paper thus determined to be a @leader OF
opinion must proclaim the particular opin.
ion it happens to be leading as the salt which
is to save society, as the condition
Of universal order. Such n leader
can only announce, as the alterna-
tive to the prevalence of its opin
ion, chaos and darkness When its opinion
does not prevail, when, nevertheless, tho
order OF nature is undisturbed, society
seems safe, and chaos.and darkness are In
definitely postponed, the "leader7 Is left in an
awkward, not to say humiliating, position.
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and the restless round Of element 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 tho first class, us especially
adapted 10 fnmiliesl A paper which is not
consumed by a sense of responsibility for the
opinions Of mankind will present its views
with at least the appearances Of candor and
moderation. Although its case may be ono
sided 1t will wear an air OF discrimination,
and suggest a catholic and judicial temper.
On the contrary a paper overburdened with
with convictions Of its own adopts the worst
manners of the partisan whose function it
usurps. Little need be said In application
OF this statement, because there is n capital
illustration OF the tendency Of this type Of
journalism only a few months old. II the
people Of this country could endure such n
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 influences
the emotions would be 10 take for granted
that intelligence had ceased to regulate
emotion in tho 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 insteaa
OF discussing public questions, a journal
finds its most grateful employment 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 p~ractice
Is applied not to candidates merely, who
may DO said to invite such attacks, but to
everybody on the other side, we may well
ask whether we might not be glad to ex-
change the aggressive convictions of Il
"leader of opinion for n Newspaper resem-
bling The London Times, which is content
TO mirror tho thought Of the hour, and by
which such atrocities are never committsd
The American press has made a marked
advance since it cut loose from confessed
party organising, but that there is yet a long
way for 1t to go Is demonstrated by the
Blaine-C leveland campaign. l am not with
out hopo 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 a great
journal viii reflect opinions ash 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
nm actor, or a singer. Such, l think, will
be the newspaper Of the future.