Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-07-10
WHO IS REsPoNslRLE9
From an Address by Charles Il. Mile
Editor of the New York Times.

From an Address by Charles Il. Miller,
Editor Of the New York Times.
am convinced that the shortest way to
reform the newspapers Is to push on to O
prompt conclusion the regeneration of man.
If those newspapers that are least scrupu-
lous as to the kind of matter they print are
seen to be the most widely circulated, that
is proof that the class in the community
which has lax taste in respect to its reading
IN the most numerous class. 1t is an easy
matter in any large city to give large circu-
lation to a newspaper. You have merely to
dismiss all scruples, all taste, all decency;
print ali the scandals that a large and active
corps OF detective reporters can unearth; let
your pages reek of crime and foulness and
cheap sensations, and so long as the So
clety for the Prevention of Crime keeps its
hands of, the bounding circulation of your
newspaper will keep your afidavit-
maker at the full stretch Of his
powers. Not many years ago a news
paper was founded in New York upon a
novel and ingenious theory 81 am con-
vinced," said its founder and editor, .'that
there are fools enough in this city to sup
port handsomelyea newspaper carefully
edited to their tastes and capacities" He
made the venture, and found readily that
"handsome support which he had so
AOAOSOCh3 oho WulCu uo
so skillfully catered. When we add
to the number of ''fools'' the much greater
number of persons OF morbid or positive
ly vicious tastes, not all Of whom by any
means are poor in estate or low in social po-
sltlon, we get pretty formidable total, in
somuch that those publications which ap-
peal more directly by their character and
cleanliness to the thoughtful, wholesome
minded part of the community have consld-
erabiy less than half the whole field for
their domain. No doubt this Is deplorable
state of things. The reformers and home
missionaries should look to it. But the pro-
prietors and managers of newspapers not
given up to sensations and scandals have Q
right to make their protest heard against
those indiscriminating censors who consign
all newspapers alike to the brand Of the
common hangman. No man or woman in
this country is constrained otherwise than
by personal tastes to read vicious and friv-
olous newspapers. There are newspapers
enough of all shades of party opinion, Re-
publican, Democratic, Prohibition and mug
wump, that are published for virtuous and
intelligent men and women. 1t is not the
fault Of their editors and publishers, nor is
it chargeable to the Wickedness of the press
as whole, If so large a part of the COM
munity turns with shameful craving to
newspapers which the virtuous and lntelli-
gent regard with disgust. Some part OF
the castigation visited upon the Ecentious
press might with propriety be transferred
to the backs of those who are daily guilty of
the voluntary debasement of reading it.
Depend upon it, you can not reform the
press by preaching at it. Abolish vulgarity,
brutality, ignorance and vice, and then you
may have the delight of seeing the sensa-
tlon-mongering, scandal-purveying editor
on his way to the poor-house.