The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-15
HELENA, MONT. JUNE IS. 1890.
pULPII AND PRESS,

va S-S~
age of gold. Its claims are championed
in the universities and it's praises sung
in the churches Of the land. Out of the
mouth of professor of literature it's
title to rank among the learned pro-
LESSONS has been proclaimed; and a
New York clergyman has lifted up his
voice in acknowledgment of the spirit
of charity and justice that directs the
mighty power of the press. What jour
nalism has had reason to complain Of is
the fact that, while the universities
have for the most part been content to
ignore it, the churches have been prone
to treat it es power in secret or open
league with the great enemy. This is
not merely unjust; it is flying in the
face of the great mass of modern facts
that can be weighed, measured or
counted. Yet almost the first clear and
candid recognition by clergyman Of the
truth that the army of the press as re-
CARDS its main body, and all Of it except
the extreme things, is on the side Of the
angels, has come from the Rev. Thomas
Dixon, in sermon recently delivered in
New York City. He goes so far as to
acknowledge that "the editor Of to-day
is in the place of the prophets of old.
In the degeneracy of the modern pull
pit, the daily press is dong the work of
God as the pulpit is not doing it.
Where is the power that guides? In
the. newspaper. Religion, politics, society,
economics, come within the range of its
power as no other. 1t is the editor who
guides. Where are the preachers? 1t
wearies ones soul to think where they
are. Alas, many Of us are trying to
please everybody-tellin you you're all
right, we're all right, the worlds all
right, the devils all right A wonder
full tribute, this, to the power of the
press in correcting the abuses and guild
the steps of men, and his peroration de-
clares that ''the daily press is binding
the world in bond of human brother
hood inspired by divine love about the
great white throne Of God"
journalism, in point of fact, sets up
no such lofty claim. At it's best, it pro-
fesses to be guided simply by the high
est and most enlightened sense of moral.
ity, justice and public interest current
at the time 1t derives no direct aid or
authority from inspiration apart from
the homely and not very mysterious in
SEPARATION of its own use and manu-
facture. 1t may not ascend into the
heights or probe the depths familiar to
the theologian and divine. 1t keeps
instead, to the solid ground of earth and
treads the beaten way. 1t thus has tc
deal with practical matters which are
frequently not mentioned in pulpits o.
taught in university classes-the more
perhaps, the pity.
Hence, as our critic observes, in thu
columns of the newspaper, evil some
times seems to predominant. That i
not due to the perversity of the editor
The recording of pain is part of God
plan for the elimination Of pain. TIL
happy man has no history. When h
gets to where everything is happy, man
history stops Evil is deemed worthy c
record because it's record comes With
the divine plan. Yet the world is nc
worse than ever. The press Of to-da
throws light upon human life. For tn
first time people begin to see what tn
world really is. When pain and evil an
SORROW are eliminated from human lif
God will furnish new principle for tt
forming of history and the conduct
newspapers. Boys before me tn
morning are giving their lives for the
loved ones; girls are toiling, toiling
unrecorded patience and heroism. N
until tragedy has touched them W
they be brought to the worlds notice
But though newspapers may have
be unclerical in style and in subjet
they need not on that account be irr
igious. Even ministers may be sens
tional, and journalists, with the materi
which every days authentic record
human wisdom and frailty puts in
their hands, often must. Where dc
the responsibility lie! "You are CO
jointly responsible with the editor I
what he prints in his paper. You q
wearied with the awful record. Who
responsible? Who is responsible for t
"diyes"? I tell you, men, you are
sponsible You tolerate them, you 60
them, you don't vote to put them doy
There is row down in the city hall
sickening record Of rottenness and crot
edness comes out. You are responsit
Can you complain OF the newspal
which gives you the record?"
"The daily press is also direct pow
1t moulds and fashions human life
human life. That man in the Office
his hand on the lever. Into his mi
pour the affairs of human lie. Let b
publish. 1t is his duty to publish q
SO that il corrects evil; good, SO that
shall reproduce itself. II he does Z
God shall hold him responsible"
These are brave, outspoken words {
journalists greet their champion "
fervent goodwill. Like the apostle Il
arc called upon every Cay, in very
eral sense, to handle and provide n
out OF both clean and unclean bea
The news and the bill Of fare OF ev
manning and evening must be judged
- own merits and circumstances pr