The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-04-24
I'll INFLUENCE OF THE COUNTRY
PRESS.

Mr. Platt, discussing the secret ses'
sion in the senate Tuesday, in subs
stance said:
"Public sentiment and the senti,
ments of the press was for open SEES
sions. OF the $4,000 newspapers in
the country fully 10000 had declared
for open Sessions. Some senators
might say that they did not care what
the papers said, hat the press repre-
scented the sentiments Of the people.
1t was the sentiment Of the people
that senators should desire to know.
Public sentiment was easily Gistin-
guished from public clamdr. The
public wish was to be law. For bet,
ter or worse the day would come when
the people were to he omuipotent in
the government. With the journal
ism that conceded to public men
neither honest motives Or private vlr-
tues he had no sympathy, for Ii he
had no respect. But that was not the
press Of this country. 1t was the
country newspapers that represented
the real sentiment Of the country -
the newspaper that had 10 special
correspondent here"
Senator Platt didn't mean what we
call the country newspaper, perhaps,
but he ought to have meant it when
he said: 1T WAS the country news
paper that represented the real senti'
ment of the country The city
newspaper is lamentabIy degenerate
sometimes and It's politics are shaped
by politicians and corporate influences
aud by its own interests, but tn,
country paper speaks straight from
the mouth of the people. 1t speak
fearlessly and from "A popular stand
point, hamperad by no interests anO
seeking NJ gain except in legiti
mate way, An intelligently conduc
ted newspaper in It country town i
the best and most effective champion
of the people, and the faireat, pures
exponent Of popular sentiment |
, shows the bent Of the popular mind
2 the actual condition of affairs in tn
t homes Of the people, tells their need
: and wishes, and is the very mouth
piece Of the men who own the coun
! try and have a right to direct lh
. government,
t Every town should see to it that il
paper is well supported, and help il
. editor to reflect the wishes and will {
the people He ought u he encouI
e aged to speak out plainly, either
e commend or criticize, and he snoul
a he literally sustained in his efor
The country press of Tennessee hav
the interests of the state largely
t their keeping, and it is to them tn
d we look for an expression Of the pee
Il Pile from which to formulate projec
d for the General good, The sohe
well>considered opinion Of the peop
= upon any question is nearly alwdy
" right, and the country press Civ
voice to it. Think as you please
your town paper, it is omeof the bu
n warks Of popular government. Son
y, Of them Seem to barely live and hay
little in them, but iC reflects more u
J" on the people who fail to sustain the
D than upon the editors who fail Il
J. want Of such sustenanGe. We nee
n to have our country papers here
n Tennessee more literally sustain,
that they may he better able to d
u fend the rights Of the people and e
press their sentiments A conscie
tious, patriotic, active man at Il
Il head Of frst-class country mp
re has more power 10 serve his peop
/ than any other man ia The o0uat
- and yet you sometimes find men G
It vious Of him or mad az him vi
1t ought to be his advisers and helper
is Nashville Union.