Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-14
GRATIFYING EVOLUTION oe.ras PRESS.


the powerful influence OF the press.
That astute political leader, Gen. Clark
son, himself newspaper man, gave
voice to his alarm a couple of years ago
at the fact that the Republican party
was losing the support OF the leading
journals of the country. This detection
began at the time Tilden was cheated
out OF the presidency. That hagrant
outrage unquestionably did much to
ALLEVIATE the honest journalism OF the
country from its blind confidence in the
Republican leaders. The foolish and
extreme action of the Rep lblican party
on the tariff was another leading cause
OF journalistic detection from the grand
old party. No organization can expect
to strip the mask from selfish and un-
scrupulous actions and find the same
loyalty that was extended to it before
the exposure. Mokanna's power was
nothing when the veil had been torn
from his hideous features.
1t was the fearless and indefatigable
Democratic press of the United States
that made the victory OF the campaign
of education possible. Even the most
eloquent speaker commands. at best,
but a limited audience. His appear
ances before the people are only occa-
sional, and his individual voice reaches
but a slight percentage OF the masses.
Even he owes his facts and arguments,
in ninety-nine cases out OF a hundred, to
the ceaseless activity of the trained
stats OF the daily papers. They accumu-
late the data that inspire his flowing
periods, and it is in the columns of the
journals which they represent that the
orator finds his real audience. But for
these universal disseminators OF opinion
the most captivating speaker would not
be able to keep himself in touch with
the public.
1t is to the press of this country that
we owe the improved tone which at
present pervades public life. Anything
like a Credit Mobilier wou d not now be
possible. In the calcium light thrown
on men and measures by the great
daiiies OF the country smirched man
would not last month in public life.
1t is glare as vivid as that which in
the old days beat upon throne. A boss
Tweed or Rutherford B. Hayes would
be impossible in this day and genera
ton. Were Grant alive, and at the
zenith of his power, he would not now
be able to pack the supreme court OF the
United States to reverse the decision of
that tribunal, as he did in the case OF
Bronson VS.. Rodes. If the press is OF
able to inspire public men with patriot
ism it can at least lash them back to the
private station.
To fulfill its real mission the press
must be free. No self-important Great
ures, swollen with egotism, should be
permitted to clog its perfect working.
Thomas Jefferson understood its value
when he said that if he were compelled
to choose between agovernmentw without
free press, or free press without
government, he would take the latter
alternative of preference. Great as the
mission of the newspaper has been i'll
the past it is attaining signifi canoe
and power scarcely dreamed OF even
twenty years ago. It is daily expand
ing it's scope and facilities; and, having
practically extinguisned the orator, it
bide fair to surrogate the editorial tri-
pod for the pulpit. Now and then puny
efforts are made to arrest its mission.
These generally take the form OF libel
suits. Juries, however, in nearly all
cases, show the value which they attach
to an untrammeled press by bringing in
verdicts for fearless publishers, who can
prove that they were actuated by mo-
tives looking to the public good in the
publications CO nplained of, no matter
how severe the structures may have
been in special instances.
In all civilized countries the great dig
nifty and Importance Of journalism are
appreciated at their true standard. The
other day the Associated Press gave to
the world the fact, as though there were
something strange about it, that Chan
cellor Won Caprivi had invited the lead
ing editors OF Berlin to banquet and
conference, at which the first dignitaries
of the German empire were present.
There was nothing surprising in this.
Prince Bismarck, in the days OF his
greatest power, enjoyed nothing 80 much
as gathering around him the bright and
accomplished men who conducted the
newspapers OF Berlin. In France hall
the statesmen of the republic have been
journalists; and to be at the head of a
leading Paris newspaper is to be a
greater man by far than an ordinary
minister, and to revel in emoluments
many times larger, in very many cases.
In England the status of the newspaper
guild is of the most gratifying character
and great leader writer has potent
force in making and uumaking govern.
ments.
AT no time since types were cast has
the newspaper shown so many interest
ing features az today. 1t is in transi-
ton era, and the questi N is where vii
it stop? A Sunday issue of one Of the
great New York dailies is almost an en-
cyclopedia. The revenues of one o.
these newspapers would dwarf those o
a German principality. Scotland Y ard