Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-03-15

Of the masses OF mankind, that the Press
is an idol before which they humb!y bow
for favor. Many, have little choice Of
the organ through which they are
brought into public notice, if they can
ouly conceive themselves to be popular.
Office seekers, especially court, cd,to'ially
iavcr aud, frequently, as means Of
rurlhuinp their unholy and Infamous
designs. They would blot out honor,
suppress talent and real eligibility by the
influence Of the press. They will ride
into Office upon the editorial horse,
because, forsoo,b, they give larger feeds
and more pctting than does the unpre-
tentious and honorable candidate. They
purchase their reelection to public
stations with the money they steal while
protesting to faithfully serve their con.
stitutcnts, and this is accomplished by
buying the press. We heard a, quite
noted, politician once say: "Give me
the press of the country and l will beat
any war record opponent and any
combination which can be arrayed
against me-" Since newspapers embody
so powerful an influence, how essential
that it should be exercised for the right.
The nress should direct aud indicate the
public pulse ard demean itself to no
birelings wages. 1t should be the ad-
vocate of the peoples rights and the ex-
ponent of their WRONGS 1t should guard
tho interests and protect the welfare OF
the whole people against the impositions
Of designing and de,ilish men. 1t
should accord merit to the deserving and
condemnation to the iniqnitous. 1t is
the duty Of an editor to expose the
infamy fostercd in political combinations
and not permit the ink to be wiped from
his pen with "sreonbacks. And when
an honorable difference Of opinion exists
regarding the administration OF social
and political affairs let the press be the
platform upon which to discuss the
question for the people and BY the people
themselves, through the agency OF hon
est editors and an honorable press. The
standard Of journalism should be elevated
and not degraded, and journalism should
fulfill its primary mission, viz: to mail'
. tain tho standard of noble manhood in
). the social, religious and political depart
ment Of government. Pure journal
ism never stoops to the consider
J alton and discussion Of the
vulgar aud profauc. Neither does ii
permit itself to become the battle ground
for the pro6tess aud unholy welfare Of
;, those who seek only the qualification Of
personal malice, spite and revenge. Ane
. the newspaper contributor or editor, who
. coward-likc, screens himself behind ;
: goose quill, in order to hurl the poison
&c Gus shaft OF SANDER at fellow man
= should take rank with the nightly as
70 sassiu who stabs his unsuspecting victim
= beneath the sable mantle of darkened SIX,
" Neither does pure journalism revel in tn
. fash aud current vulsar,,ies Of gossiI
- vendors and meddlesome busy bodies
'' nor the Hippaut aud questionable twaadl
, Of street corner lounyers and COW BIO,
y hudllmism. The daily and week.
> Journals confront US in our stores, work
~ shops and business Offices. They ente
" into our sacred homes and become, al
: most, a part Of our domestic life. The.
!; are read by our wives and children
around the home Preside; and, will
many families, the coming of the resula
: weekly paper is an event Of delightful
. anticipation. The principles, precept
{, and general code Of ethics advocated i
\. the home paper frequently makes
strong and lasting impression upon tn
callow mind of eager and trustin
: youth, whose faith in newspapers is, tina
only truth and deceney should be thu
- openly promulgated TO the worlt
% Some of the popular and, so called
+" leading journals Of the day devote colum
;" after column and page after page to tn
y bloody record Of criminal deeds, whc
u arc constantly besmirching the fair page
~ of our judicial court xegsters. Murder
- !, arson, robbery &C., and the usual calende
~ Of crimes in social life, are infinitely St
. fourth in all their, horriiying brutalit
:" and disgusting atrocity. Sluggin
- matches and priz, fighting are next i
u the order Of edification; then horse raj
VI 10. and so on down to the item: eth
justly popular family newspaper, onl
+" two dollars per year postage paid.
u What refined and genial influence sue
IL newspaper exerts in households an