New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-26
MR. DANA TO THE WISCONSIN EDITORS.
From " The NewYor5 sun's' Report of His Address
at Milwaukee, July, "a.

From The New-York Sun'S' Report OF HIS Address
at Milwaukee, July, "a.
The modern paper IS possible only in thckly
settled. civilized country which demands 1t. 1t IS
mark Of high Intellectual development that coun-
try demands such publication. As compared with
Europe, America is lar I'm advance. In the whole
Of tho British islands there not more than half
dozen newspapers which can compare with those OF
this country Inc same cnucIsh nous g0ou III re-
gard to the newspapers Of Germany. There the
papers remote from the people; here the press
10 close TO the people.
The atmosphere of freedom Is essential to tho
production OF great newspapers A distinction should
be made between American and European definitions
OF freedom. In France, the daily paper has well
written essay but the remainder of the sheet Is hllcd
with matter which IN America would o. considered
mmatcridl The newspaper must furnish the inf0r-
nation the people desire or it Will be failure The
first thing looked for IS news, and by thar word the
speaker meant anything which interests the people
Alr. Dana said that whatever Divine Providence per
mittcd TO occur he was not too proud To report
applause and laughter
80 important is the function OF the newspaper that
college, are establishing classes for instruction in
Journalism Notwithstanding this, Mr.. Dana had
hcaid old news paper editor say that such classes
were useless, because the only place TO carn te Ds
ness Is IN newspaper office. The old division Of
learned men clcIgymcn doctors, and lawyers !;
but now newspaper men must also be educated men.
remarkable thing about the education OF newspaper
men is that IL should 10 universal He must know
q. great many things aud the better he knows them
this better hc Will be In his profession. There Is no
chance for al ign0ranuS il that profession zap
plause)
The doctor and the lawyer may have ruic5, Dut hcre
are very few rules that can be used by ncWs paper
"flist-Get the news and got all the news, aud
nothing but the
-ccond-Copy nothing from another publication
without perfect credit.
Thlri-Never print an interview without tho
knowledge aud consent OF the person Interviewed.
daughter and appaisc
fourth-Ncyer print paid advertisement as
news matter (-aughicrJ Let every advertise
n.cnt appear an advertisement. No sailing under
Finh-Nevcr attack the weak or the defcncelcss,
either by argument, by invecve or by dcule unless
so
"SiXh-tight for your opinions, but don't believe they
contain the whole truth, or the only truth.
scvcnth-SuppOrt your party, If you have loud
laughter and appause but don't think all the good men
In it, and all the bad ones outside Of 1t. Laugh
teri
Eighh-Abovc all, know and believe that humanity
is advancing and that there IS progress In human o
and human affairs applause ana That as sure as Cod
present or the past Applause.l
That" said Mr.. Dana, is pretty general code.
but It TO 1t covers the case very wclL' Con
tinung, he said:
There IS one other point / would like to touch
upon, and that Is the question OF the power OF tho
press. We know that the press Is very powerful
agent. Ii takes men when their Information is com
peie when their reasoning has not yet been worked
suggests and intmstes and insinuates opinion and
a judgment which ofentmcs a man, unless no is a man
Of very great force of character and Intelligence adopts
hing establ shed and ludcd That Is part
Of the power OF the press.
Here you take the mind Of man. and. without his
knowing II, you shape II, you direct It you send him
along on n road which ho doesn't know and which very
offcn you don't know. daughter That, however,
Is not what | mean by the real power Of the press
Tho power referring 20 Is something much
more substantial and much more important The press
often takes up great cause l remember whom, a few
tremendous controversy, which took hold of The hearts
and lives Of the whole people, the question OF
slavery. There the press was divided, some on ono
side and the other except that those who wer
on the other side not proud Of II now ZAP
planse.) There great power, and fOr tho most
part II was exercised for the good OF the people, and