The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-06-13
VALLEY IRGINIAN
DEFERRED MATTER
N wspaper influence on Politics.

/ N wspaper influence on Politics.
The Boston Herald has been submitting
series of questions to Massachusetts
statesmen on the use of money in poll
tics" The replies were very interesting,
| and none were more so than that received
| from Ex-Governor John ID. Long. In his
answer to the query. ''What is necessary
| to be done to have our political campaigns
| become campaigns of reason ?" he writes
the following on the influences of the daily
| newspapers
1.-THE press is already the most efficient ele-
ment in our political campaign. 1t reaches
| thousands where the platform reaches only
| lew 1t has always seemed to me that the re-
| sponsibllity of the press in American politics
| is of the highest, and should be glad to see
| public sentiment which would encourage those
| who manage the press to maintain the high
standard Of argument and advocacy which !
am sure they themselves prefer. Our people
are a reading people. and their reading is prac-
| tically the newspaper. There is no other asen-
| cy which can be made 81 usefully powerful in
shaping political opinion 1t has been favor
| lite notion of mine for some years that 1t would
|
| cal meetings and more in articles in newspa-
| pers and in their broadcast distribution
throughout the community. l should like to
see every day copy of well-conducted paper
| on the side OF my party put into the hands of
| every voter in the commonwealth. Public
meetings are of great value occasionally, but
the constant. steady dripping of the newspaper
| is marvellous influence, think the time will
come when the political managers will adopt
| the plan have sugge sted. 1t Is plan which
| involves plain. straightforward appeal. to the
| reason and which would reach the intelligence
| of every citizen in the quiet of his own home"
| These views, coming from gentlemf n
of Gov. Longs high personal and political
character-conseryativ in all things al
unusually learned and observant, carry
with them great weight. But it is not
Gen. Long alone who believes as he
does as to the influence of the judi
ciously conducted newspaper in political
campaigns. as in everything else affecting
| the public interests. A well edited news
paper-one that respects the opinions OF
others and aims to state the truth and
give reasons for the faith that itannounces,
is an important factor in healthy politics
as it is in the good order and progress of
community. Where the conductor of
newspaper feels the responsibility of his
position: recognizes that he is moulding
public sentiment either for good or badsr
suits. and that he is as much amenable for
the effects of his labor as any other class
of public servants, whether in one vocation
ho 80 to
the people among whom it is published.
In long experienced Journalism, our OBJ
servation has impressed us with the belief
that there are too few editors and writer's
who feel their resp onslity. Some OF them
work becaus they have gift or taste for
that md of employment without serious
thought about the effect of what they give
to the public. They do not think that tie
mind of the young, at least, is very i'm
pressible, AND that a sentence or Senti-
ment, whether for good or evil. may leaye
its impress for all time to come. Others
aspire to editorial work to accomplish some
selfish purpose or to subserve some MERGE
nary end, Indifferent to the influence that
may be exerted. in other respects upon
the public. Some men connected with the
press, have not the first conception of the
duties they assume. To these it is dull,
stale and improbable to indulge in legiti-
mate discussion of principles and policies
and prefer personal invectiveS, appeals TO
the lower passions, and abuse and villifica-
tion of those who do not agree with them.
Such literature is debauching to the pub
lie mind, the EVIDENCE of the utter abb
sence of a true appreciation of the mis-
sion of journalism, and a crime against
community,
Gov. Long properly interprets the inflr-
ence of a we'll conducted newspaper in
political matters. A sound, conservative
journal in the hands IF every voter, would
have infinitely more effect in moulding
opinion than the ranting of rattle Drained
stump speakers who misconceive ling
power for argument and physical gyra-
tions for oratory. Facts bearing upon any
public question. lodged in the public mind
through the newspaper, are carefully con-
sidered and digested by the general reader,
He takes time to reflect over them and to
discuss them with himself or his neighbor
IN the calm and quiet of his home or his
ac3 of business and thus has his convic
tions formed and his opinions settled and
concluded. 1t makes him an intelligent,
conservative voter, and not the victim
of passing passion and specious appeal.
EDITORS ought to be governed by as high
motives as the minister of the gospel. The
press, properly conducted, is a power for
good. It is equally power for evil where
honest purpose and asincere concern for the
public welfare are not the animatlng and
controlling influences in its management,
And political organizations could not sub
serve the higher interests of party better
than by circulating freely party jour
nails which fairly and clearly discusses
public questions and party policies in the
| light of truth and with the object of ele-
waiting public thought and concentrating
the public good.