Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-05-13

upon the extent of the influence of the
press. That is well understood and
very generally conceded. The man
who corns it nov because he cannot
successfully use it, is forced, before he
can succeed, to call it to his aid. And
who will say that, as exempliied in the
editorial pages of u magazines and
newspapers, this influence is not for
good? There may be evil in the press;
there may be impurity, license, subser-
viency to power or to wealth incom-
potency, selfishness indeed all OF these
are obvious in many places, but they
are the imperfections attendant upon
all human effort, and they are conspic-
uous by reason of the fact that no other
work Is so open to the pulic eye.
, Journalism is in it's infancy as to
time. 1t is only a few short years, that
J in its present completeness as to news
and miscellany, and power as to edi-
torial opinion, it was unknown. From
the span-like sheets of a hundred years
ago, confined to a few essays and ad-
vertisements, with the foreign news
contained in a month-old letter from
Paris or London, what strides have not
been made? If, then, it's infancy is of
such potential power what may not it's
strength be when it has reached the
full measure of its more perfected man
hood?
In one-half of the homes of our coun-
try books are rarely read. What is
known in them of even such familiar
authors as Macaulay. Gibbon, Carlyle,
Shakespeare and Dickens? And yet
in most of these the current subjects of
the day are Familiarity and intelligent
ly discussed. That the newspaper has
largely supplanted other agencies of
intelligence and education IS patent,
and hence comes the responsibility and
the duty.
The subject Of this address would
hardly have been assigned to me if /
had held the view that the highest pur-
pose of a newspaper is to make money
for it's owner AS q business invest
ment it is no doubt true that the news
paper is legitimately and properly ex-
pected TO be made profitable. While
this is so, there is a correlative obliga-
ton growing out of the relation that
it's personality bears to its readers,
which cannot safely be disregarded
When a subscriber pays for his news
paper the editor enters into a tacit con-
tract with him to furnish him with re-
liable news, and with honest comment
upon all questions of sufficient impor.
lance to demand it. The physician
may visit a patient or not as he chooses,
and his professional standing is not
impaired. Not so with the editor.
Whether or not his private taste or in
~clination impels him to. silence upon a
certain public question he must speak
1t is in the bond it is his duty to ex'
press his honest sentiment, and he
cannot shirk his duty without damage
, to his journal. A lawyer may take q
, fee upon either side of a cause and he
! is none the less thought of. Not so the
> newspaper. 1t must always advocate
! the right, and if it takes a fee at all
even to do battle for a just cause or g
I. clean man it is forever disgraced. This
: may upon the face Off look hard. A
; surgeon or an advocate may by his skill
Or eloquence command in one case {
: princely wage, where as the Journals
/. must expend his best efforts without
: bias of money, of place or of any othel
: recompense. But this is just. Th,
contract with the subscriber is, tina
Z the editorial ~utterance shall be honest
faar. free and impartial, and the editor
Nho aslls his editorial columns, d
fes 3lof1 sktf1 hebestofa potita
lend That fs MD Z rasf
9 would die within I