Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-03-28

, ponds upon it for the breath Of life.
a But the claim which The Times puts forth
in its own behalf. however well founded,
does not alone account for it, wonderful sue
) cess. During its hundred years Of prosperous
T existence scores Of heroicaliy Independent.
journals have gonedown TO death 1t would
, not he necessary TO look as far as London &c
find examples Of editors who starting with
the highest hopss and the most aggressive
) conscience, have sacrificed to the latter the
remnant of a slender circulation and encoun-
tered dismal disaster. the Times, in addi-
ton to deliberate and wise independence
Of government favor and Iarty influence.
has developed an extraordinary adaptabiiity
to public opinion. II is not too much to say
that its remarka BILE career is founded on the
diligenr practice Of this art.
Harper's Weekly expresses long settled
and general conviction OF intelligent OBJ
servers when il says that The Loneion Times
has teen @the organ of the dominant public
opinion Of the country 1t has seldom
sought to entertain views Of its own or 10
impress such views upon it, leaders. 1t has
endeavored u discover, in advance Of any
body else-just as it has sought to get the
news Of the world-what this majority were
thinking anl saying ON the question of the
hour, and TO make the most effective asser-
ton OF these words AMI thoughts. When it
hits the idea Of the ma ority-as it usually
has done-it is sure of the favor of the ma
jority; because there is nothing the most Of
US Ike SO much As u read in favorits
paper what We already believe. Those of
u who enjoy reading articles solely for the
way in which they are done. and apart from
substantial acceptance OF rejection of
their notions, are very few in numbers
OF oour-e thi, policy of the leading En- =
lish Journal is time serving; but it is time
serving ON magnificent scals. Our own
newspapers seem 10 ie ignorant OF tine art
II is not the result of superior conscientious
ness. Many OF them woull like to be time
serving in large way if only they knew
how.
The weakness Of the American press which
distinguishes IL from the first-class English
press, a, represented by The London Times.
Is an intense self-consciousness. 1t is desti-
tute OF repose-tEe flower of all the art.
Every newspaper, whether printed in the
metropolis or IA remote rural district,
whether born yesterday or early in the CEN
tary, is moved 10 pronounce woe upon itself
if it lead not somebody somewhither 1t
fears that IL will lie rejected as destitute of
convictions If II does not give itself up 70
constant and passionate assertion Of one
thing OF another-it matters little what 50
long as the method of affirmation he suffi-
GENTLY vehement and persistent The craze
for leadership involves some results which
NAV he worth noting bv and by.
ii the common apprehension OF 1 lie lines
policy be correct it is the reverse of this; and
steadfast adherence to the policy has, per-
hap. more than anything else to do with its
remarkable success. OF course, it has been
a, n. a
cUuld not have Teen great newspaper. 1t
set example for all daily journals in thi,
particular; but although it was first in the
field, able rivals have appeared, who have
succeeded sometimes in beating it. But it
has been unequalei IN another cleaning &C
uvity-the gathering of opinions AMI their
faithful reflection 1t owes perhaps more to
this than 70 its expenditure AMI enterprise in
harvesting facts TIE radical difference be-
tween it and our journals lies just here The
Times is content to lie the mirror of thought
But, some person Of acute intellectual con-
scientiousneSs will exclaim. under the
London policy you have great jour
nal without opinions. Well The Times
woull reply if it cared for nythiug of this
sort, what business has great Journal with
opinions Of its own. 1t Is the public alone
that Is bound 10 have opinions. The journal
represents the pnblic. II is bound to find
out what the opinions are and set them
forth, just as j: searches for facts and reports
them
At all events there are certain advantages |
flowing from The Times policy which may
be readily apprehended 1t makes for
dignity, decency, self respect, judicial I
mindedness-all valuable, staying qualities
1t is free from personalities and it never
loses it, transformations which insure the |
newspapers permanence and make it an es
tablished institution. The Times may take /
WRONG views Of things it may make pre- lie /
tons winch fal far short of verifcatiOn but I
1t never b comes ridiculous Free from tine |
small vice Of consistency, it not only is indif
fereut TO the hot erorn which Is heaped upon /
nen and Journals that change their opinions,
but Gdapts itself to new circumstance, and |
views readily rs the polished surface re-
produces the passing panorama Of the street.
1. never he-itates and il never apologies.
So it la pens that the great London news
TAPER grows deeply in English soil. because
t IS no more cast down by political changes
llIan The British oak is destroyed by the
variations of the weather. The sunshine of
summer aul the storms Of winter, - which
il submits it elf with equal alacrity, serve
alike to tonghcn its fiber and strengthen its
roots What has the oak To do with view
on tho ciimate.
The ntcn er ;ype of journalism which pre-
saIl, in y iIeri,a produces results the op
Ios:te of the e. Our brst-cia>s newspaper
never lose, its enc of responsibility for
things. Ii cunceIves that it must have con-
victiuns every detail IF the affairs Of the
universe. ami 1t must maintain them with
out yar.ablcneS> or shadow of turning. IL
convictions OF proper sincerity AMI passion
aten-s~ can1pt lie had for the asking there
must IT,. AT least, a pretcnse of belief, an af-
lection OF faith. The necessity accounts for
the noi,i ines, and clamor and accompanying
emptiness wG.ch characterize some OF cur
most widely ce.y hratod journals. A new
paper thu, determined 10 be '-lsader of
opinion" must pro claim the particular opin
ion ii happens 20 e laGding as the salt which
Is 10 save society, as the condition
of universal order. Such leader
can only announce, as the alterna-
tive to the prevalence Of its opin
iou chaos and darkness. When its opinion
does not prevail, when, nevertheless, the
order Of nature Is uniisturbsl, society
seems safe, ami chaos and darkness are in
postponed, the .eader" is left in an
awkward, not 10 say humiliating position
Yet the necessity for conviction remains,
and the restless rounl of vehement assertion
and dogmaiic denunciatiou continues
The most astonishing activities Of journal
ism OF this type are displayed during periods
OF political excitement What must a di,-
Interested observer think OF the work done
by newspapers at such times-not merely b.
campaign sheets, but 10y journals which are
ranked in the first class, a. especially
adapted 10 families! \ paper which is not
con, uned by a sense II responsibility for the
opinions IF mankind will present its views
with at least the appearance II can Tor and
moderation Although il, case may be one
sided II viii wear an air of discrimination.
and suggest catholic and judicial temper.
On the contrary n paper overburienei with
wi h convictions OF it own adopts the wort
manners OF tne partisan whose functi n II
usurp>. Little need lie aid in ampii,icstiOn
OF this statement, because there l. capital
illustration Of the tendency OF this type OF
Journalism only few months old II ths
people Of this country could endure such a
journalistic experience rs that OF the can
vass Il 1854 without feeling the neces -ity o
a course OF sackcloth ami ashes. nothing can
move them - such voluntary modification
To say that the work done b., the partisan
press could convince the reason would be an
Insult TO tie human undsr,tan ling
To suppose that 1t could influence
the emotions would lie u taSs for granted
that in Jollisenee had ceasel TO regulate
emotion in the conduct II lie. When per
-f,a r.l,ra Z