The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-06-03
peoples trustg

Have you invaded the So
cred precinct Of the family circle
and dragged the skeleton from the
closet there and exposed il to the |
cold, crnel glare Of the public
gaxes Did you stop to think that
perhaps you lent your aid in ma
king that same skeleton by the
kind of reading you furnished for
thai home? Has consideration OF
your own interest betrayed you in
to silence when issues of greatest
moment plead in pathetic tones
that you voice a protest and speak
out boldly for The right?
Let memory do honest, earnest
work, as you review The files, and
see il aught appears on record to
awaken the following lament that
stirred Martin Luther's soul: "'Tis
a terrible thing and full of danger
10 raise ones voice and speak in
the midst of those whom we have
for judges; when | think of it, !
feel that | could heartily wish 10
bury all in silence and pass a
sponge over what Nv: written"
Your subscribers know your pa
pers. You go ''in The midst" of
their homes and they are as we'll
acquainted with the nature Of their
daily, weekly and monthly visi-
tors as with the surface Of the
earth on which they live. They
have learned where 10 find the
mountain heights of pure, clevat,
ing thought, and where The marshy
Dismal Swamps' are heavy and
heavlng with the miasma general
ed by rejecting perverted public
opinion. They know where The
political volcanoes burn and scorch
The air with flaming breath, and
roll their blighting tides Of lava
into The peopled valleys below,
where the plains are covered with
ne,tles and lhistles, and rue grows
rank and riotus where only heart.
ease flowers should bloom. They
know the parIerre where the but
terfies of society find allurement
among the gorgeous blossoms OF
folly and fashion, as we'll as where
The gurgling streams Of comfort
wind within the vale OF peace.
Rev. I. Dewitt Talmage says Of
his visit to the printing houses of
New York ''These are The found.
ries where the great thunderbolts
of public opinion are forged. How
the wheels rush-all the worlds
news rolling over the cylinder like
Niagara at Table.Rock. Great
torrents OF opinion, of crimes, of
accidents, OF destroyed regulations,
of avenged character. Who can
estimate the mlghtiness for good
or evil of the daily newspaper! 1t
is high time that good men under
stood that the printing press is the
mighliest engine Of all the centu-
ries."
The most forcible illustration OF
this is 10 be found in the recent
conflict over the Louisiana Lot
terry. Thongh championed by a
few leading journals, as soon as
the united press poured its volley
of condemnation into the heart OF
this moral monster, he lay pros.
trale at your feet. So, no great
corporation for good or evil can
exist without your leave.
it were given me 10 furnish a
tallsman for journalism IN my
State, in every editorial sanctum
within its border, | would place
The motto that hung over the desk
ola New York journalist: "rhe
editor has rare opportunities, and
might be the knight-errant Of oul
age. If in earnest and on The
right side, he can forge a weapon
out Of public opinion that few evils
could resist, for he is in a position
to discern these dragons and drive
them from their hiding places"
Linked to thoughts like these
} you would glorify your work, ant
thrill your columns with suct
power, that the world would lee
, and own your presence "in tn
midst" Temptation in myriat
forms will assail you to lend you
columns as agents of evil, bu
, give back the brave answer tina
, Nehemiah gave from his place OF
wall: II am doing a great work;
cannot come down"
The world needs you. II wa
5 this helplessness that touched tn
, heart OF our Divine Teacher, dwell
> ing "in the midst" Of the Trinity
. He came to our sin.laden earth
!. with the ministry Of bis manhood
7 for the uplifting Of the same rae
!. Of human beings that claims you
! services to-day.
"God give us mon A time like tn
U demands
!. Strong minds, strong hearts, true fait
! and ready hands.
= Men whom tho lust Of Office does III
o kill;
1 Men whom the lust Of Office cannot buy
!. Men who possess opinion and o will;
|, Mon who have honor men who will M
III lie;
Men who stand before demagogue
n Aud damu his treachsrous batteries will
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