Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-02-23
Fhe Educational Column.
THEPULPIT, THE SCHOOL AND THE
PRESS.

Without naming them in particular,
American literature is represented by
some of the ablest periodicals, maya
zines and journals published any
where in any language; and in deal
ing with literature they treat upon
the most important questions of the
day,-leaders of thought in the high
est channels. In price and tone they
are above the reach of the common
reader. Just as in oratory, genius
seeks the best audiences for the most
pay and the highest appreciation; so
with the stage and the PLATFORM
talent finds its greatest reward in the
higher circles of intelligence and So
cial life.
Coming down to the masses of the
people, the three great educating
agencies are the school, the pulpit,
and the press. The school is what
the teacher makes it, and the teacher
is made out of the influences that
make the school. The educating in
huences of our schools rise no faster
and no higher than the demands and
the general makeup of the patrons.
AS far as social, civil and religious
life is concerned, it might be called
educating by generations; and taking
this generation of citizens that now
makes up our towns, counties and
cities, it has the highest average in
telligence, is the most Independent in
thought, the most advanced in sci
ence, the most successful in business,
of any people that ever lived. The
commonest school-child knows more
of the mysteries of creation and the
wonders of discovery than the great
scholars of old,-because it sees and
hears and reads more, because it is
not hampered by restrictions of caste
or cult,-not dwarfed in body or stu
pe6ed in mind by customs of igno-
rance or superstition it is reared
more in conformity with nature; the
whole world is spread out before its
view; everything combines to hasten
it forward, and the links that chain
backward the shooting vine are CIV
ing away one by one under the men,
tai strain of the age. Yet humanity
and civilization are far from perfect,
and they can never be perfect in this
world. Perfection is not in human
nature. There is too much of the an
imal in man; passion, appetite, pref
udice, desire, are brute influences that
can be controlled by divine virtues
but never exterminated as long as
man and beast sustain life from one
source-the food of the field.
The influence of the pulpit and that
of the press reach the people direct.
The pulpit has picked audience, the
press takes its hearers as they come.
The pulpit knows the convictions be-
fore 1t; the press has all kinds of con-
victions to deal with and often none
at all. The influence of the pulpit is
conscious, that of the press uncon-
scious. The pulpit studies to elevate;
the press elevates to study. The pull
pit is paid to preach, and if either
party to the contract is not satisfied,
relations cease. If the sentiments of
the press are not sustained, Unjust go
out of business.
In this age the press goes before the
pulpit. Though of humber origin
and lesser pretentions it is the most
powerful lever to move public opin-
ion. The pulpit may shape the intel
lectual and religious course of nations,
but it can only move it by ages. The
press shapes nothing, of its own will,
but it moves the great reforms and
popular revolutions on the spur of
the moment, beause it knows the
mind and the sense of the populace as
the physician knows the pulse of his
patient.
Newspapers as rule are in the
hands of business men. There is no
professional line of succession. There
is no learned course of training. Boys
are taken from the field or the shop,
from town or country,-from the
very midst of the common people.
They become printers or reporters,
and when the chance is offered. take
charge of a paper. They fit themselves
as they go. 1t is means of max
ing living, and little more. Take
the leading papers out of every large
city that make fortunes, and the rest
run their chances. The country news
paper is limited to circulation and
home business. Their prosperity de-
ponds upon the appreciation of the
people and the liberality of the State.
The ordinary newspaper is dependent
upon the deople. The official organ
of party, trade or organization is still
more limited and dependent. For
the power welded by the press and
the good it accomplishes, there is no
adequate pay. Men often talk light
ly ola press as bribed. Editorially
it is not true; but as matter of bust
ness the advertising columns of most
papers are open to all at the same
price.
The country is safer in the hands of
the press than of the political states
men. It has no fear and little favor
TO ask or give. The press represents
the people and acknowledges no au-
thority or obligations except the peo-
pie and the laws of the country.