The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-19
Tho Function of tho Press.

The American Newspaper Publishers
Association, which has been holding its
annual meeting at the Holland House. is
body made up Of very intelligent and en-
terprising men from all parts OF the Union.
They meet to discuss the purely business
side Of newspaper publication, but as the
material prosperity of journal as bust
ness undertaking is essential to It's proper
development, and. in the long run. affords
= measure of its value to the public. their
convention Is Of unusual Importance.
The publication Of a newspaper in q free
country governed by public opinion and
possessing the priceless advantage Of q
free press. Is business which stands by
itself. and is peculiar among business and
industrial enterprises. 1t is pursued, Of
course. for the purpose OF pecunary profit.
and SO far it differs not at all from all other
manufacturing enterprises. The men who
put their money and their ability into it
make the investment with motive which
is the same as that which induces
other men to risk their capital in
an iron foundry. cotton factory, or
. banking house. except in tho distances
where they arc influenced by vain ambitions
and false conceptions as to the functions
people imagine that If they have a selfish
object In politics. a hobby in social reform.
stheory in religion, or an undertaking in
business. which they are eager to promote
and propagate. the first great necessity for
them Is to start newspaper as an organ.
II they can get their views in print, and
give them currency in q newspaper under
their absolute control. they think that they
fall tpV, ND ,rtI
directly their own selfish and pecuniary
Interests.
Many journals and many other periodl-
rails are started on this assumption, and
their establishment is a practical proof and
substantial acknowledgment Of the indie
pendence Of such considerations and limi-
tations in the really well-rooted and sue
Cessful newspapers conducted on business
principles. and with larger and truer COM
prehension Of their public obligations. The
people who want only to grind their own
axes In newspaper are forced To start
newspapers Of their own, for they flnd by
experience that they cannot turn to their
private uses the really influential journals
already established in the confidence of the
public because OF their broader and higher
conceptions OF tho function OF q journal.
1t is for tho public interest. therefore.
that newspaper should be founded and
conducted as business enterprise and for
the purpose of pecuniary profit as its prime
object. No really successful journal in the
world has ever been run on any other prin-
ciple SO far as concerns the main motive of
Its publication. 1t is published primarily
to make money. The capital employed in
It is invested for that end and tho ability
expended in its production. whether bust
ness or literary and purely editorial and
Intellectual. is exercised for pecuniary re-
ward: and without such remuneration 1t
could not DO obtained any more than pic
ture of "a great artist or the book of q great
author can be had for nothing.
Instead OF debasing the newspaper. this
purpose OF securing material profit Is essen
tial to It's elevation and TO tho proper per-
formance of its function; conservative. re-
Strainipg. and broadening influence. By