Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-13

of the day is concerned, it has proved, and
does by its protest against vicious literature
prove, its usefulness to virtuous causes. II
the book-writing, magazine essay, re-
view contributing, class; the schol-
arly recluses and the eminentiy
distinguished men of the literary world
outside of the ranks of journalism, would
add 1.-THE of their great influence to the
warfare againt vicious literature which Is
poisoning the fountain head OF young man,
hood and womanhood in this day, and
emulate by half the example OF their less
nroninent and learned brethren OF the
press. the battle of suppression and purl-
fication could be won in year or two, ana
the literary class in America have less OF
impuritv with which to reproach Itself
in proportion to numbers-than any other
class of people following reputable voca-
tions. If Sumner, Eliot, Holmes, Amos,
Froude, Sidgwick, Bancroft Morley, War
ner. Howells, Knox and the host OF lights
in the modern literary armament would
ioin hands with the press in the crusade
lust now girding up It's IONS
anew-against vicious current literature,
the reformation so much desired would be
worked. But these men and their thou
sand associates are silent, comparatively
in the face of great demand for reform
within the literary realm, for it cannot be
denied that the vicious literature of the
hour is of the literary family and emanateS
from some of the most cunning pens that
are skilled in the literary vocation. And
so the question suggests itself. Are the
great leaders of the literary legion proving
the right of their class to exist, when the
demand is made for their aid in Il Just re-
formatory work related directly to press
and pen. and they remain inactive r
Heaven knows the moralities of the daily
| press will bear much renovation. There
is altogether too much in the newspapers
of the day that have tendency to debase
the taste, corrupt sentiment and 'yul-
garize the public thought, But there
is very little that arrays Itself I'M
blushingly against the sense of mod
esty and decency very little that tends to
| lead the lad of the day to forsake home
and friends for romantic phantoms; very
| little that can turn a maiden into the
paths of destruction But the book. news
stand and flash. journal literature of the day
| have all these influences, and that they dc
incalculable evil is not capable Of truthful
denial. If we had our way, the manner IN
which crime and vice are treated by the
press would be radically reformed. 1t Is
very nearly all bad now. 1t stimulates II
a wrong direction, and it is cultiyatlng
morbid taste and dulling the moral sensl
bilities at one and the same time. But The
newspaper of to-day is not the newspaper
of the future. We must wait labor where
we may, and wait strike at such vices
within the literary class as lift up venom
Gus heads, and trust to the progression o
clean ideas to bring US 10 the day speed
lily when the records of the nasty scandal
the vulgar expose, the lascivious story, Tho
racy amour, the horrible crime, the revolt
ing deeds of blood, shall be eliminated a
to some Of them, and modified into harm
| IaSsness as to others