The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-09
TIM MODERN NEvssrArER.

wr;,or lanes Anthony froudc. IS at THIS time
contributing a series Of papers TO Longman
tbo, lao calls Tho Spanish Story OF the
Armada.
The attempt OF Phillip n. to invade Ing
land with the forces embarked on the Armada
was the most important step in that move
contemplated by him that aimed at universal
dominion with a suppression Of the reformed
Church. and the re-establishment oil the
Roman Catholic hierarchy oil over Europe.
Tho defeat of this attempt was the most I'M
nortant event in the development and pro
oreas of civil liberty and an unrestrained rel-
cion that las ever occurred IN the history OF
the world since the institution Of the lteior ia
tion Tho event should have been classed
bv Greasy amongst the decisive battles of the
world. since it decided much more than has
ever before or since been decided by any one
event.
4 most curious circumstance connected
| with this event is tho fact that u gave rise 10
the modern newspaper. That great ana wise
sovereign, Queen Elizabeth. not appealing to
her people in behal. of their commerce. their
wealth. their ease OF their safety, but remind
ing them of their national honor and dignity
Us Englishmen, pictured to them.
"Ihe tout sco,n that Puma or SPAN SHOULD
/ DARE 10 i,ra9e the jordrs ~ ho' realm. and
she. first Of all. resorted to the Gazette to
{ publish. and scatter amongst her people her
noble and patriotic address TO them. which
reused England from centre TO circumference.
and hurled the Armada back, wrecked and
! dismasted to its own infamous beginnings.
! The reader viii not find much of these mat
tiers in Mr.. FrOudes papers, but they are YER
/ table history nevertheless This was the
beginning OK tho modern newspaper. Il
served great purpose in its start, and has
principally controlled tho thought Of man
ever since But is the American newspaper
Of to-day pursuing course worthy Of its
high and noble lineage? is it not degrading
itself into a vehicle for disseminating social
posons that tend only to the degradation OF
public morals and the bunting Of every high
sense?
These reflections have been aroused by the
course of the New York daily newspapers for
the last few weeks few weeks back the
New York sun published very long special
cable from London. which informed its readers
that a lady who had heretofore occupied
very high social position in New ork city's
society was suspected by her husband 20 be
false to him; that he believed her paramour
10 be another New Yorker named Borrowe
and that. 50 believing, he had underworld to
force Borrowe to meet him in mortal combat
which attempt Borrowe had evaded. This
was the whole of the dispatch aud OF the SEN
sation, yet the sun paid very large sum Of
money 10 induce one Of the parties 10 the
transaction 70 violate confidence and give it
the particulars IT prides itself very highly in
having been able to secure exclusively this
choice piece # news, and all the New York
dailies, from that time to this. have been filed
with alleged details OF the affair.
Now. supposing every word in tho dispatch
to be true. is it news" in any proper sense
Of that word If Mr. Draytons family rela-
tons have been broken up, and disgrace now
sits where honor belongs. is il the part Of the
newspaper 10 blazon his shame and distress
10 the world, and hold him mp TO public gaze
for the jeers and mockery of mankind The
smallest element Of charity would dictate the
impulse to aid him in concealing this blight
of his life from intruding eyes, rather than TO
the opposite course. The instinct that would
cad to dragging il into public view is more
debased than that of the hyena that digs up
corpses TO feed on putrid human flesh
Since then we find the columns Of the New
York dailies filed with the details Of the con-
troversy respecting the omissions o. invite
Miss Greene to dancing class. Thoy eiee-
fully publish the statement that Mrs. Wise.
in the confidence Of q committee meeting. OBJ
jected to Miss Greene being invited alleging
that she was no better than another lady and
that Miss Greeues honorod and venerable
grandfather feeling the remarks as an imm-
tation upon the character of his beloved
grandchid. had called upon Mr. Wise for
retraction Of what Mrs Wise had said, OF for
hostile meeting with himself
We know nothing whatovcr Of tho facts Of
the case. Mr.. Wise Low publicly states tina.
Mrs. Wise never made the remarks attributed
to her. But suppose she ell MAKO them. is il
for the newspaper to catch them
up and circulate them broadcast over
the face of the earth. Is that legitimate
news; OF what concern is it 20 any but
the personal friends of tho parties Interested
whether Mrs. Wise made tie remarks or
whether she did not 1t is the functions of
the newspaper to find ont quickly those events
in which all are concerned. and to get these
events to oil in the speed.est and most read
able form. 1t is complete peUerson and
abuse OF its functions for 10 20 invade the
family circle and drag before the gaze II tho
world the squabbles. the quarres. the ieal-
ous.es, even the examinations that may occur
there. il is to drag the noble profession of
| journalism down to the level of the lovost of
siums. TO harness one OF the most honorable
of calings to a garbage cart OF filth to COM
/ pei him whose duty and pleasure 1t is 10 im-
prove the mind. TO devote his powers to raking
! up scandals to satisfy prurient tastes.
How far different from the time when Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth invented tho news
paper Inform her liese subjects that des-
pot was about to invade their homes and sup
press Their religion. and when she reused
their patriotism by reminding them of the
foul scogn that Parma or Spain siouif
due TO invade the borders OF her realm"
And the cruel, untold infamy OF those who