Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-22
THE HONE AND THE PAUL PRY PRESS.

Has the home in these days any rights
that the press is bound to respect? five
are to answer the inquiry upon the line of
the practices of the sensational press il
must be in the negative. Before the de-
mands of such journalism there is no pri-
vacy, the home is no longer castle i'm
pregnable to the inquisitorial searching Of
anyone who possesses himself of types
and q printing press, and the duty of every
citizen to himself and to the public is to
report the affairs of his household daily to
this new domestic censor. Such is the
logic of the practices Of class of the
prints Of the day. They proceed upon the
theory that they are commissioned to
inquire into and keep constant watch
over the domestic affairs Of the peo-
pie. 1t makes no sort of difference to
them that the affairs of the home, Of how
ever apparently unhappy character, may
have a perfectly rational explanation, but
concerning which the public should have
no concern. 4 very recent local case is in
point, and emphasizes the protest that de-
cent journalism everywhere makes against
this dragging Of private concerns into pub
Lefty. Selling upon an apparently indis-
Greet action on the part of member Of
family, an article is prepared and given to
print in San Francisco, that on its face car.
ries the implication Of domestic infelicity.
There appears to have been no pause for
inquiry into the real facts, no effort to as
certain the truth that illness Of a certain
character renders the victim irresponsible.
and the object of mereiful pity, and the
charity OF kindly silence. The Paul Pry
Of the press has but one Interpretation to
put upon all things happening within the
household or related to it that is not ex-
planned at the same time from the house
top, As this catering is to a morbid and
vicious taste, the matter must be dished up
TO suit the palates Of the scandal mongers
and the lovers of human agony. The
scandal once voided upon the public at
mosPhere, the press that has respect for
the sanctity ofthe domestic circle is driven
to mention such affairs, and as far as is
possible administer the antidote for
the poison, since silence IN the
face Of Islander and unwarranted
prying might lie taken as acquiescence in
it. Where matters occurring within the
household affect the public interest, con.
Germ the commission of crime, the exposure
Of villany, corruption and conspiracy to
invade human rights, the Office Of the
press is unmistakable, and the right of the
individual gives way to the demand of the
public good. But in seven-tenths of the
cases Of scandalous gossip by the Paul Pry
press the general public has no concern,
and publication of the misfortunes of the
family is not only downright injury to the
public, but is an outrageous invasion of
the right of the citizen to the privacy of
his castle. The private scandals and do
nestle troubles of individuals with which
the press fairly drip. have in the great ma
jority OF cases no other purpose in publ
cation than to create a demand for the
sheet among class of readers whose ideas
Of life are false and whose tastes are Vi
cious and demoralizing, The hearts of the
and humane are made to
bleed daily by the unwarranted trespasses
Of the class Of newspapers to which we
refer, and there appears to be no help for
1t. Hearts must continue to be laeerated, |
the innocent shamed and the sensitive |
wounded the homes of the Lam must be |
unroofed to the greedy scrutiny of this
modern Devil on Two Sticks" who stalks !
over the housetops the privacy, the Joys
and the woes of domesticity must be made |
public concern, and the private ills and |
secret sorrows of the chamber barred to the
brutal gaze of the morbidly curious, that
the sensational press may coin money out
Of the tears of woe, the sorrows of mis-
fortune and the trials of sore hearts.