The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-06

| tlhlOH Ol iOuuN lo ONcliulcu NouloIIOW.
The Journalist lully recognizes that we
are the ancieni5 OF the world, and we
stand upon the highest peak ever reached
| by man, and with the vast treasury OF hui
man experience at our lcet lie knows no
cessation Of progress, except with the utter
| extinction OF human life. Like time, he
knows not the weight OF WEAKNESS.
| In representative government, the pol
itician is necessarily a reflex OF the public
sentiment OF the hour. lie lives for today.
His plans, his aims, his aspirations all CEN
| ter upon his career. Instead Of inquiring,
ms does the Journalist, how events affects
the worlds great march, or the age, his
inquiries are, how do they affect his record,
how will they change or modify his career
Therefore, the politician, ut the cost OF
| every conviction and often in spite Of the
upbraiding OF conscience, and in spite Of
the light OF truth revealed, must be con-
slstent in the sense OF never changing, and
this, too, in world that is ever changing
The journals, looking not to his in
| divdual career. knows that TO be consistent
he must 10 inCun is'enl; that holding an
opinion today, llrkcncd MS il is by iogs
and clouds PERHAPS is not good reason in
itself for hcldiug il tomorrow, with its
As there il nothing which politician
guards so jealousy as his reputation for
consistency, 50 there is nothing which a
journalist cs;eems 50 little as the changing
OF opinions with the ever ebbing tide OF
human progress.
American conditions have not vet
learned 10 tolerate in theory, however
much the being may exist in act, the pro-
sol. Z.
made possible lv the supposed fact that he
has rendered, or can render, the state
some service.
Tie Journalist, commencing 1T the very
foot Of the ladder, ELECTS notice for guard
ing interests wi ,u othcrs sleep. Ii eternal
vigilance be the Iricc of liberty, he is the
faithful sentinel Ur The lone picket on the
danger line, whose cyc'ils are never
weighed down with hcayincss or whose
senses are never sunk in iorgeliulness.
The work OF the journalist il Matchmaking
IN its effects. No matter how small the
newspaper, its editor always remembers
that its printed page cndurc-, that it, cir.
cuatiOn cannot Doe limited, and that thou
sands Of telescoY are !eyclci 10 detect It's
spots. No matt how backed up by local
feeling, II must p.-, before the great CEN
sois Of the worl.
lou would NJ more be able TO dam the
Nile than You could prevent the sensa.
iional aud cccCu'rc outcroppings oi the
local picss from passing Ia review before
the great bar Of public opinion. 1h, la
C.o7. DmOcW I.f OkI'Dal Srics and
The L.mtra Sdyu have each succcss!ycly
played parts on lhc stage Of sensational
journalism, and each has been absurllv
accepted ~ a reflection OF public opinion.
The service OF She Republic Is mere
episode with the politician. OF his life It
Is q thing apart II is the journalists
whole existence. The politician cniists
Tor The campaign, the journalist for the
War-ior lie. Oncr pursuits arc compati.
hic with the cancer OF the politician: the
journalist must love once, and only once,
and that love must he llyishcd upon his
profession. IL has been aid that the law
u jealous profession. Il may bc with
more NUN said OF journalism. The history
OF American journalism AFFORDS one mclan.
choiy Instance which, ia fact, exceeds in
pailu' anything Ia fiction. IL Is th, career
OF Horace Greeley.
Mounting through poverty and untold
Obstacles 10 the highest position which
journalism coull offer. looking down uuon
President. aud Governors ani Senators ~
pigmics, which hc With breath had made
and unmudc, the siren yoic, Of ambition
tempted him from the trDldcu field of his
profession, which ice knew ~ well. TO taste
lot time the bitter fruits Of power. The
rcinbition was complete and terrible.
The very weapons with which hc had
fought tyranny and ,indicalod the r!eht
were TUNED against him, and the poor old
lettering philosopher oi Tie Tribune was
shown 10 have bccn, according 20 the
politicians standaid, the most incOnsis,cn,
man oi his age. ii'scycry statement. made
IN The course OF Dis long aud busy life, aud
~ every variety ui Circumstance. Wcrr 80
m1ny Tolls 81 rhimmcI.ng steel turned
against him. lie irll NJ the side Of the
siren Who bad betrayed him irou. his post.
Another insianrc Of a journalist Who
Jas ihe iapi admiration Of lis profession:
fpf short peri1 Ice turned asi.i- Tor Of
bee, bui NJ tie e.. -e VI the tlm i0r which
be sas eirtt'd D. went luck 20 ms place,
them 20 STAY. ih.fr iO alOf and ihcno 90
De. u as the ''uisipn IT wisdom, and
o. Tina decision ua nfo indebted Tor the
splendid lradcrsl Il 10 ihc gruat war Tor
i-un reform. HI Mr. Walicf-1n pur.
fisi bis political career. which doubles.
"'.atf INV ~" ~ HlNiNNlN AZ Nraft I
could desire, Il J. certain that his great
powers. divided Iy Tho multitude 81 inlcr.
fsir involved AM perhaps rendered innct. |
iye by ibs emu II public lii,. would have !
lnHn lees efficient O organizing that great
l.uuo ia behalf Oi lac people against the |
iHifrnchmcnt o. monopoly aud power.
Such striking Illustrations ~ these are
not needed, hOWDyer, t0 demonstrate that
the journalist cannot b. politician.
While their relations anl associations aro
necessarily iutma'o, an inieuninging OF
the professions would bo essentially iata,
b. tie succe q Oi both.
Ia conclusion, IIIW me 10 say that tho
relations Of the politicians aud the prrss
have been yssiI, changed in the past
qulfior Of q century Formerly Il was |
Oh" custom Of the press 10 draw an OF lis |
inspiration from iho politicians, 90 act In |
tho staple capnitr 0l medium through
which they laid thcir yicws bclorr the |
public. fodny tie pfcss j. the dictator of !
our politics II sounds the keynote of !
every campaign. sod LAYS down thc ISSUES |
between parties between Two Jaws, and |
the politician awasCs Ia the morning anl |
reads aud accepts them Us his own, / |
think 10 not put u too strongly when | |
Nay that the conditions ap 10 changed
that the politician Is merely tho mouth.
piece Of the pres
"Rosert Eisncre" iu Topiet
f'frat a. u fhlf.HuH MAJ