The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-03-17
THE JOURNALISTIC JETTATURA.

IL some parts of the world there is
n belief in the "Jettatura," the evil
eve The owner of the evil eye brings
misfortune to those upon whom he
looks.
The recent journalism of this eoun-
trv has inverted this old superstition,
for it carries an eye that looks for evil
amongst men, and by the flaws in its
lens affects to see the bad in all
things.
This inverted Jettatura makes OF
every public and private act some
thing evil. If there be exploited any
where a good action, the evil eye sees
behind it low motive. This style of
journalism teaches that all virtue is
assumed, and that all good words and
acts but cloak intentions that are I'M
worthy.
The prevalence of this practice has
produced what is called sensational
journalism. 1t has made newspapers
a domestic terror and has broken
down public confidence in the honor
of a profession, which, considering its
power, should be the most honored
and respected.
This style of journalism occasion
ally seems to have exhausted itself
upon individuals and organized bod
les, and so takes communities in its
sweep and indicts, then, people In
mass, regardless of the pain it brings
to the innocent. If its allegations
were credible, then humanity is ready
for another cleansing deluge or heal
ing shower of fire or birthstone. But
the frightful fact is that such journal
ism, long persisted in, produces, ap-
proximately, the very condition of de-
moralization which it affected to dis
cern while it had no existence. By
the operation of subtle laws the con-
slant ascription of evil produces evil.
This fact was well understood by the
ancients, and hence the declaration
that "evil communications corrupt
good manners" Therefore the evil
eve in journalism is to be feared, for
its influence goes to the dragging of
the world down to the mire in which
it sits, and to bring all within IFS cor
rupt horizon.
There has been much seeking for
the cause of this modern habit in
newspapers.
Perhaps that cause will be found in
the resort to this profession of men
who feel that they owe the world
grudge for their failure in other lines
of life It must be remembered that
many a bright man drifts aimlessly
amongst the other intellectual pur-
suits, finding himself untitled for them
all, because he is supremely fitted for
journalism. Such was the case Of the
late DR.. Holland, who had wretched-
ly failed in other means of gaining a
livelihood, and was unaware Of his
adaptation to newspaper work and lit
erature. The keen discernment of the
elder Bowles saw what was in him,
and beginning as a reporter on the
Springfield Republican, DR.. Holland
closed his career as editor of the Gen.
ttTy, and had meanwhile given to the
world some of its purest and bright
est and most helpful literature in fic-
ton and in verse. But his was the
case of Il great heart which had not
in it the mean desire to visit upon
mankind the consequences of his own
mistake in choice of a career. He is
the type of many worthy men who
find at last in journalism the oppor-
tunity to better the world and them
selves which they had elsewhere
sought mistakenly.
But there are also scorpions born
into the world to sting and to poison
it, who, failing in all other things,
find in journalism the chance to wreak
upon mankind the venomous ven
geance of hearts naturally bad, and
these men are the founders of the
school of sensational journalism.
A newspaper writer of well ordered
life, with peaceful home and wife
and children there, feels himself and
his to be a vital part of the commu-
nifty, to share its respect for lawful
things or to accept degradation if the
average eUf its conscience andits morals
declines. Such man is slow to visit
even the petulance of personal disap-
pointment upon the public, for every
such act travels in an orbit which
finally reaches his own family. Men
and women do noble things enough to
supply proper journal with the in
nocuous spice of personality; while
the less display given to the ignoble
deeds of the morally diseased the bet
ter for those who are yet pure, and so
far these are in the majority.