The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-12-17
The NEWSPAPER OF TO-DAY.
The Helper of Religion, Science, Educa-
tion, and all Good Works.

No publisher or editor pretends that
he risks his capital, gives time, labor,
thought, and care to the making of a
newspaper, for charity's sake. He pub
fishes his journal as the book publisher
publishes his book-for profit as a
means of living or making fortune.
Publishing newspaper is strictly busl-
ness, though there is no other business
on the face of the earth of which phil
anthropy and patriotism are so large
part.
The newspaper is the helper of the
church and the school, of religion,
science, literature, art, industry agri-
culture-of everything which concerns
the good of society and the State. 1t
is the very prop and stay of charity
and public spirit; the most potent
enemy of public wrong or injustice;
aud it must be so necessarily, as it is
public sentiment reflected in type. The
newspaper depends for its success upon
| popular favor, and the aim of every
| one connected with it is that of win
ming popular favor by running upon
parallel lines with public morality
! To say that the newspaper is published
for money is to say no harm OF 1t. Ii
has passed into universal maxim that
.'the church lives by the altar'-by
the ontribution which the faithful lay
upon the altar. And it is true, and ii
is not discreditable. The newspaper
press is generally as high in morals
and intelligence as the public con
science and mind; higher than that
can never be permanently, as 1t mus
be what society demands it shall be
As a matter of fact, it frequently rum
ahead, temporarily, of public sentlmen
that destroys public wrongs; it oftel
secures justice by proclaiminS the IN
justice.
The press is not without its faults
but venality or untruth for money
sake is not one of them. Its Wors
fault is it's partisan prejudice, its IN
ability to perceive that the newspape
: that serves its country best serves 1t
party best. 1t does not lie for peif. bu
it does, for political expediency's sake
!, too often fail to recognize the truth
l 1t is not unclean for moneys sake, no
sensational for profits sake, though
: NAV too often blunder into the mire
into sensationalism through want c
good Judgment. The press of tn
United States-and we speak, of course
of that great body of reputable news
papers which really constitute the pres
is Just what readers OF high OF aVel
age Intelligence and morals make
and it rises day by day to higher plane
of intelligence and morality.
To make the best, the truthfulies
the cleanest newspaper, all otht
things being equal, is to make the mos
{ profitable one. That is the experienc
Of every publisher aud responsib-
editor of great and peeuniarily SUI
d cessful public journal. The press wi
always have its adverse critics, who ,
run to the earth will be found to
some unworthy discarded members
it, or those with whom the press h;
had to deal more in justice than
# mercy. As to its defense again
mendacious criticism, it is making
daily; for it is compelling the testimoI
$. of scores of millions of readers to j
+ usefulness. its public spirit, its intel
gence, and its NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
. Telegraph.