Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19
FUNCTION OF ruE PRESS.
The Successful Newspaper Must rromos. the
Public Welfare.

Tho succcssfui Newspaper Must rromote the
Public Welfare.
From the New York sun.
The publication OF q Newspaper in a IRE.
country governed by public opinion and po.-
sessing the priceless advantage Of q free press
is "a business which stands by itself. and is Pc
euiar among business and industrial enter
prises. IL is pursued, OF course, for the pur-
pose OF pecuniary profit. and 90 far IL differs
notatsll from all other manufacturing enter
prises- The men who put thor money and
thoir ability into IL = AXE the investment with
motive which is the sans - that which induces
o'her men 60 risk their capital In iron
foundry, cotton factorr or a banking house,
except IL the instances who're they are influenced
9! VAIN ambitions aud IA So conceptions as TO
Tie functions and Possibilities of q newspaper.
some people Imagine that IL they have selfish
ooJect IN politics, , hobby in social reform.
theory IN religion or an undertaking IN bust
ness. which they are eager 60 promote and
propagate. the first great necessity Tor tnem h.
10 start newspaper as an organ. II they eau
get their views in print and give thom currency
IN newspaper under their absolute control
they think that they powerfully influence
end further indirectly their own selfish and De
eunisry interests.
Many Journals and many other periodicals.
are started on this assumption, aud their es-
adjustment lie practical proof and substantial
acknowledgment OF the Independence of such
considerations and limitations in the really
wei rooted and successful newspapers COM
Quoted on business principles, and with .
htAer and truer compro hension Of their public
oohgatlons The people who want only to
grind Their own axes In n newspaper are forced
70 start newspapers of their own. for they ind
oy experience that they cannot turn 90 their
private Uses the really influential Journals
already established in the confidence Of the
pnDhc. because of their broader and higher
conceptions of the function OF journal
II is Tor the public interest. therefore. that Q
newspaper should be founded and conducted
as business enterprise. and for tho PURPOSE Of
pecuniary pront as its prime object No really
successful journal an the world has ever been
run on any other principle 80 far AZ concerns
the main motive OF its publication. 1t is pub
iished primarily 20 make money. The cal itai
employed IN II is invested Tor that end. and the
AFFINITY expended in Its production whethea
business or literary and purely editorial aud
intellectual IL exercised for a pecuaisry re-
ward; and without such remuneration i, could
not be obtained any more than a picture OF a
great artist or the book of a great author can
be had for nothing
Instead OF debasing the newspaper this mr.
pose OF securing material pront 10 essential 90
It's elevation and TO the proper performance Of
us junction.; conservative. restraining ana
broadening influence. by reason IT az the pub
lie themselves are made partners the enter
prise, and the newspaper Is made more sousi-
i've TO Its obligations to them. Its interests
| same. for its prosperity depends on its fidclity
TO the public welfare and the consequent popu-
lar support AZ receives. Ii must earn the popu-
lar confidence and respect by meri.ing them
It's own interests are involved in lite Enlightened
comprehension OF the needs and the sentiment y
OF society. IL Is not for itself alone but Tor al
mankind; not its own critic. merely. but an OBJ
ject for the criticism Of altshe people.
Hence, by the very necessity of its existence
| as prosperous business enterprise "a news
paDer forced ai0aof mr.
| which partake OF the character of the Eighesg
and purest craftsmanship and have a distinctly
altruistic quality. 1t cannot take q narrow aud
selfish view. Ii must survey all society and
/ subordinate personal considerations to the gem
eral welfare Ii is a statue carved out by man.
but which takes on life and individuality of is
own and eventually dominates its author. IL ID
| an institution which may never die, while he \
mortal whose span of life is short He be-
comes Insignificant rs compared with the con-
struction of his own hands. All society and noe
he alone has buildec it up. Without the susie
nance OF the popular confidence and favor 10
languishes and dies. Ii is for the people 10 say
whether il shall be vigorous and enduring OF
feeble and ephemeral; and their decision 10 rem
dered IN accordance with the vigor and persist
| ency, the wisdom. honesty, sincerity aud ability
with which it defends their interests aud main-
tains the principles that command their respect
Ii is a representative elected by popular suf-
| frage; and il must serve all the people and noe
its individual owners alone II 10 10 70 psosDeF q
| a commercisl undertaking.
This makes the newspaper peculiar smou9
business enterprises. Il 10 - necessary for u
| to have intrinsic merit rs IL 10 REQUESTS that
work Of art should have beauty or b Q tsuo
| revelation Of nature in order 70 comunnd
critical approval and enduring sminsncs. Il
secure parallel consideration . nswspapss nuso
be conducted on the principles which undsslis
all real art; it must get ITS reward from the
singlsness OF its effort to attain Q purely ideal
end. Art for arts sake 10 motto applicable %
| journalism. As . business enterprise essab-
lished for money making IL cannot succeed
otherwise in full measure and permanently.
To the great honor Of our important and suo.
cessful newspapers it can be said that generally
they are conducted with q sagaoious and con-
scientlous regard for their public obligations
They do not forget their Representative char.
acter, but hold themselves as servants Of the
people, accountable for the of their ste ward.
| ship. Their conductors are under no oath Of
Office and no formal bonds for the faithful per-
formance of their public duties. but they are
| bound by a sense Of obligation which 10 often
times religious in its elevation Their func-
ton has q sscerdotal character, and their VOWS
| Of fidelity must be made 10 God and not "
men.