Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-05-16

SATURDAY.
NY 10. 1895.
THE INFLUENCE On rnE Pass

The INFLUENCE or TUE PREss.-
If there we're no other arguments
going to prove the influence Of the
public press, the fact that editors are
constantly importuned to discuss or
not to discuss this or that measure,
because it might prove beneficial or
detrimental to the interests Of this or
that class. proves that in their minds,
it wields power that all must feel If
men were afraid of aot that influence,
they would not seek to check it.
How important then, that the influence
which the press does exert, should be
in the proper direction. 1t should
be terror to evil doers, and If it
does no more than TO faithfully chron-
icle passing events. it already exerts
an influence for the prevention OF
wrongs. The press should then be
10 the hands Of individuals, who, look
ing out over the horizon, should faith
fully take note Of all wrongs perpe-
trated, no matter under what pretext
they may have been committed.
The fact that the public press does
not exert more salutary influence, is
partly because in many instances it is
not sufficiently supported by those
whose duty as well as interest it is to
assist in making its influence more
potent for good. How much more
powerful would this influence Be. If
all men interested 10 ele, ating the
moral tone of society, would more
staunchly support,those who conduct
our public journals It would give to
those who must stand The pressure,
greater boldness In expressing them
selves against wrong and oppression,
no matter IL whom found, ii eli pro
fsssedty good men would lend, not
only sympathetic. but uaeteriol aid in
supporting this great engine in the
furtherance Of progress and reform -
It not only takes time, but it requires
money, to exert this influence, and we
cannot see the justice of any one de-
voting an undue portion Of the one
or share Of the other, when all are
alike interested in this work. Not
only those who support newspapers
by advertising their business, and
who th=s make their own fortunes by
adding to the Support Of others, but
the readers Of those papers are in
duty bound to assist 10 disseminating
instruction through the medium Of the
public press.
Men regard this matter Of taking
newspaper much as if they were plac-
ing the publisher under obligations to
them by taking bis paper. when the
fact is they are scarcely even doing
their share Of the work, by paying for
. single copy they read daily. They
are, as good citizens, bound to spread
abroad more and more the influence
of that paper which fills its proper
place in tbe community where pub.
lished.
The public look too much upon the
press as money making Institution,
and those who conduct II, who ask
for sufficient support to defray expen.
ses, as'pnblic beggars; when the fact
Is patent to al rejecting minds that
it is as much an educator as our
schools, lecture rooms, or In i certain
sense our churches, which are support
ed BY the community because they
believe them necessary; and the time
! IS fast arriving when the town which
can boast Of i've Or SIX thousand in
hkhitants, and does not support wen
its oily paper, viii be set down as
behind The age, and win. 10 the end,
reap the reward Of their own short
sightedness. We have nothing spec
ial 70 comp sin Of in this respect.
We only delsand 70 Be recognized Is
being engaged in 10 mean enterprise.
but one that pays well the people for
whom We labor. and makes . good re-
tuFn for All the money demanded 10
auslain i. and insist because we de-
sire tie influence Ee are enabled IS