The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-07-27

eran Editor-The Power of the Modern
Journal Ably Set Fortnight Maxims
for Newspaper Men.
MILWAUKEE, July 25-Charles A. Dana,
editor of the New York Sun, addressed an
immense audience at the New Academy,
under the auspices of the Wisconsin Edi-
torial Association. The veteran journalist
was greeted warmly. The speaker said he
began newspaper work, on a weekly
literary paper, which meant that it wa.
issued once every week Tlaughterl |.
The weekly edition of that sheet was
500 copies, which would not compare
very favorable with the present daily
paper, which literally ran a mile minute
Applause. In the modern newspaper the
intellectual and the mechanical depart
ments joined to produce the daily paper of
to-day, which was one of the wonders of
the world
The modern paper is possible, he said,
only in a thiclzly settled, civilized country,
which demands it. 1t is mark of high
intellectual development that country
pared with Europe, America was
far in advance. In the whole of
the British islands there was not more
pare with those of this country The sans
criticism held good in regard to the news
papers of Germany. There the papers
were remote from the people; here the
press was close to the people,
The atmosphere OF freedom was essen
tial to the production of great newspapers.
A distinction should be made between
American and European definitions of
freedom. In France the daily paper
would have one, well-written essay,
but the remainder of the sheet
would be filled with matter which in
America would be considered immaterial.
The newspaper must furnish the informa-
ton the people desire or it will be failure.
The first thing looked for was news, and
by that word the speaker meant any thing
which would interest the people.
The speaker did not think colless
course in journalism would be of much
value. The one school was the newspaper
Office, and without it no man could become
a thorough journalist Applause and
voices: "That's so."] There were no set
maxims and rules for journalists. The
doctor and the lawyer might have rules,
but there were very few rules that could
be used by newspaper men. Mr.. Dana,
however, submitted the following:
''First-Get the news and get all the news,
and nothing but the news.
.'Second-Copy nothing from any ones pub
LEGATION without perfect credit.
'Third-Never print an interview without
the knowledge and consent of the party inter-
viewed. Laughter and applause
Fourth-Never print paid advertisement
as news matter [Laughter.1 Let every adj
vertisement appear as an Notwithstanding
sailing under false colors [Applause.l
" Fifth-Never attack he weak, the defense.
less, either by argument, by nvective or by
ridicule, unless there is some absolute public
necessity for so doing.
/ " Sixth-Fight for your opinions, but don't
believe they contain the whole truth or the
only truth
" SeVenth-Support your party if you have
one loud laughter and applausel, but don't
think all the good men are in it and all the bad
ones outside of it. [Laughterl.
"Eighth-Above all, know and believe thai
humanity is advancing and that there is prog.
ress in human life ana human affairs, Zap
plauseI and that, as sure as God lives, the fut
ure will be greater than the present or the
past" [Applause.]
Continuing, Mr. Dana said:
There is one other point 1 would touch
upon, and that is the question of the power oil
the press. We know that the press is very
powerful agent. 1t takes men when sheir in.
formation is incomplete, when their reason.
ing has not yet been worked out, when
their opinions have net yet been fixed,
and it suggests and intimates and
insinuates an opinion and Judgment
which oftentimes man-unless he is man oil
very great force of character and intelligence
adopts as something established and concluded.
That is part OF e power of the press. 1t is a
power, an influence, which is exercised ovey
the minds OF the pee pie, often W thout the
knowledge of any criticism on the part of tn,
person who is subjected to its power.
"That, however is not what 1 mean by the
real power of the press. The power am now
referring to is something more substantial
and much more important. The pres,
often takes up a great cause. 1 remembe
when few years ago we had in this country al
immense and tremendous controversy which,
took hold of the hearts and lives of the Who'll
people over the question of slavery. There tn
press was divided, some on one side and som
On the other, except that those the otL er sid G
are not so proud of W. [Applause1 The e
was a great pow y, anC 70 the most part it WAS
exercised for the good ol the people, and i've
rejoice now, as we look back upon that gre at
controversy-we whose fortune it was to bear
some part of tat the great result that nas
finally Observation-Disclosures, as it was, through
blood and fire and tears that have left upon this
country and upon the history of the world a
mark that will never be obliterated. lap.
plause.] That is what mean by the power of
the press-the power of speaking out the SEN
timent of the people, the voice of justice,
the aspiration of wisdom, the deter
mination of patriotism and the hope
OF the whole people. The judgment,
the effort, the power Of those who were on the
other side is wiped out. You look for it and it
is there no longer All their efforts have disap.
peared as the dew disappears when the sun rises.
There is another function of the press which
is perhaps even more important. In this free
country our constitution puts into the hands of
the executive officers of the Government an i'm.
mense authority There is no King, no Emper.
or, autocrat in the world who yields such
power for instance, as the President of the
United States. Well, suppose time should come
God forbid that it ever should come-but, if it
should come, that there should be in the post
of the President man who has gained
such influence over the hearts Of the whole peo-
pie that they become deaf to the suggestions
of wisdom and give to his ambition free
sway and an open field; suppose that he
sets aside, little by little, the restraints
of the constitution; suppose that he
tramples upon that great principle of per-
sonal liberty which is the noblest i'll
heritance that our fathers have left u.s.
oOO"uo0 ~ 10 thO fCi IAO VI bhO ~ uDilC. sup
pose that he tramples down That principle; the
Executive power is in his hands; the army fol-
lows and obeys him; where, then, is the
safeguard of the public liberty against
his ambition9 1t is in the press. Tire
mendous applause.] 1t is in a free press.
And, when every other bulwark is gone the
free press will remain to preserve the berries
which we shall hand down to our children and
to maintain the Republic in all its glory, let us
hope, forever and forever
Upon the close of Mr.. Dana's address the
audience broke out into wild burst of
cheering.
Fire in Montana Theater.
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