The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-22

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 a 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, 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 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 families! A paper which is not
consumed by 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 catholic and Judicial temper.
On the contrary paper overburdened with
with convictions of its own adopts the worst
manners of the partisan whose function it
usurps Little need be said in amplilication
of this statement, because there is a capital
illustration of the tendency of this type Of
journalism only 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
acourse 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 to take for granted
that intelligence had ceased to regulate
| emotion in the conduct of life When per-
| sonaIities 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, 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 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
to mirror the thought Of the hour, and by
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 ever
in the United States stage of Journalistic
evolution reached beyond what The LondoT
Times itself has attained; when great
journal will reflect opinions as it reports facts
when it will not feel constrained to adop
any body of doctrine; when its functions
shall he purely critlcal-critical of to-day
topics-and when it will be under no greater
necessity to support a party, or a candi
date, or an administration than a book, Of
an actor, or singer Such, | think, viii
be the newspaper of the future