The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-08-03
MR.. DANA'S FIRST MAXIM.

MR.. DANA'S FIRST MAXIM.
EDITOR WISCONSIN: Chas. A. Dana
in his admirable and interesting address
before the Press Association on Tues
day evening, expresses code of max
inns or principles for the proper con
Quoting of a newspaper, that wonderful
factor in our social, literary end politica
life. The first of these is: 'sGet the
news, get all the news, and nothing but
the. news" Had he made this lesl
clause to read, nothing but the decent
news" he would have struck higher
mark than the great American press
has yet attained.
The modern newspaper is not q model
newspaper, as every mother and keeper
of q house keenly feels. I have large
family, most of whom viii some time be
men and voters, who are beginning to
look out at the problems of life, are be-
coming interested in general and politi-
cal matters, and Of course must read the
daily papers, and will be attracted by
what is wonderful, unusual or startling;
but when there are repeated almost
every day in print disgusting details OF
crime and vice, arrayed with such glar-
ing, sensational headlines that he would
be dolt who should not notice them or
be very wise and strong who would not
read at all. Can you be surprised if I
am SO outraged and incensed that I feel
that would thrust the newspaper from
II 90
which saw advancing to strike its
venemous fangs into the heart of my
child? The two dailies that probably
come into more Milwaukee homes than
any other papers, and come as old
friends, too, are not the least guilty of
bringing to us and our families this
wretched and demoralizing stuff, calling
it qeys.
Now, Mr.. Editor, in all the fearful
record of crime that is daily rolling in
upon us, SO much of it of an immoral
and indecent nature, why is it necessary
to lay before every man., woman and
child, and force upon them details which
are not fit to be spoken or written, and
which should be heard only by judges
and jurors for purposes of relief and
justice? Why emblazon it in all its
filthiness and vulgarity before the very.
eyes of our boys and girls, so that hug
them in our arms as closely as we may.
we cannot keep them pure. It is not
needful, for education, nor intelligence
or usefulness.
I do not believe we need to let our
youth down into the very depths of i'm
purity and wickedness that they may
see the world" and then move heaven
and earth to drag them up again and
save them. 1t is time for mothers to
protest against this invasion and desecra-
ton of what is most sacred and dear.
"a free country and free press" does
not mean that the newspapers may run
riot with the morals of the people any
more than anarchy be allowed to lay low
our best beloved government of justice
and peace.
1t is time for the press to awaken
to an appreciation and arise to the right
use of the wonderful opportunities and
power hey possess to educate and elevate
the people, to put down and make
odious the vileness and wretchedness of
human nature, and to lift higher the
standard of purity, integrity and moral
ity, and not let themselves down to the
lowest classes who only grow worse by
feeding upon the tainted food. We
should have newspapers, and there are
such, filled with reading that is valuable
and attractive, amusing and entertain
ing, interesting their readers with the
most fascinating subjects and bringing
the liveliest news from the uttermost
parts of the earth, which we can enjoy
without feeling that we have been in bad
company. And I think we shall feel
called upon to choose between such
papers and those W. ose editors think
that "news" consists in the relating of
everything that occurs among the vilest
and lowest. Until the press shall grasp
some such idea of its great responsibility
and high privilege the first maxim Of
Mr.. Dana's code cannot be accepted.
A MOTHER IN THE SEVENTH WARD.
The remedy for the evil of which this
mother complains is very simple and
at the same time very efectual one
do not buy or allow into your homes
papers that pander to depraved appetites
by endeavoring to make vice enticing or
but disgusting and hideous.
When publishers of newspapers learn
that the circulation of their papers are
lessened by publishing sensational and
sickening accounts of matters not proper
for the family circle to read they will
soon eliminate all news of this kind from
their columns.