The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-06-01

+ in this county which be-
reer by catering to depraved
TASTES en- aer failed ANONYMOUSLY or
" as compelled to drop its sensations,
scandal-mongering and blackguard
dad take the higher ground of de-
c@ncy. There is not an instance
where q newspaper has had more than
temporary success by adopting the
ether policy. To-day there is not
newspaper in the country which has
my ability to influence public opinion
chat is not established on the solid
Mad of decent journalism. That
sant which patronizes a newspaper
lse it is devoted to the business
ndering to depraved tastes, never
and never can establish public
nal on solid business ground. Its
porary success is maintained by a.
of galvanism. In the long run it
cen that the element that patron
5 it is not the majority. 1t is not
en- prosperous element, When it be-
mes necessary to quarantine news
aper or stop it at the door because
be chances are that it might contain
omething that the members of the
Eamily ought not to read, and when
those at whose doors it is left make
apologies or explanations to their
neighbors, in order to stand well in
Sheir estimation, it cannot be said
that such a newspaper has any per-
manent hold Of the better part Of the
\ community. As for the part who
like sensations, and scandals,
the hold is temporary, and
psver can be permanent, because
lis element never represents the
lid prosperity of the community.
There is of course, always a large
number in every community who have
mofbid or vicious tastes. These are
better pleased for the time being with
newspaper that will pander to such
tastes. There have been scores of
instances where this seeming pros
parity had no basis of permanency. 1t
turned ont that the pretended circu-
latiOn lad never been sufficient to pay
!, expenses. and that it required con-
tInual pouring in of money to keep
the concern from sinking. 1t was not
property that could be given away.
For shrewd business men are not
searching for holes in which to s. ink
their capital. ali the malignant false
hoods, al the black mailing terrorism,
all the smut and blasphemy has
not brought the concern to
! the point of permanent sue
cess, or anything near it. The cor
rupt journal takes on the character Of
the unprosperous, changing and vici-
Gus element. 1t must make degrad-
ing political combinations and must
be on the money-making side of poll
- have other illegitimate sources
enue, or it cannot live.
j lie, therefore, it is true that
is always a minority in every
community that will prefer
bt newspaper to an honest one,
minority is continually subject to
egration. 1t cannot give what
S not possess. As long as there
cious element in the eommun-
- there will be a vicious
school of journalism to pander
t. it. But it is an error to sup
pose that it constitutes available con-,
sttuency. It is always a minority
and losing one. That accounts for
tie discrepancy between the assumed
prosperity and the actual prosperity
of that class of newspapers which are
kept ahoat by resources brought in
from without. One or two alterna-
tives may be set down as certain
Either the concern will sink out Of
sight, or it will be saved only by a
radical change of methods and prin-
ciples. That view is supported by the
experience of the past. A newspaper
can no more be established on the
patronage of the vicious or corrupt
portion of the community than state
ly edifice can be established on quak-
ing marsh.
BRAINS IN BUSINESS