The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-05-13
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
The Power of the Press Often Used to
Mlslead the Public.

misieau Jhe BuDilc.
Public sentiments the ruling power
OF this country. 1t makes GO ernors
and destroys rulers. 1t enacts stat
utes and repeats laws, 1t pronounces
decisions and reverses the edict of law
and the mandate OF the courts. 1t is
the enthroned arbiter of the destinies
OF this people. 1t is the uncrowned
king, without purple robe or simmer
ing sceptre, that makes every power
bow to its demands and all rulers pay
obeisance to its dictum
The prass the pulpit the bar and
the stage are the great shapers, mould.
ers and directors Of public sentiment.
Each has lis particular sphere and fills
its own mission. The press is first men
toned because 1t is regarded as tho
most potent AMI influential; and by
reaching the largest number with
more fire. luency, is tho most universal
in its effects upon the body polite.
This influence is not realized by
those affected by it. 1t comes to the
home in the quiet serenity of sur
roundings and addresses the mind
when most liable 10 impressions anG
influences IL honest truthful, un-
biased, and sincerely seeking 10 con-
vey accurate information and incul.
cate correct principles it is % power
for good and II means Of education
that is most wholesome and desirable.
IL on tho other hand it seeks only to
pervert to distort ana carry the mind
to the adoption of certain purposes
regardless of the correctness of the
statements made to assure that result
it is an insidious and dangerous ser.
pent to be taken TO the bosom.
Newspaper men study the applica,
ton OF the powers and influences pos
sessed by the instrumcntality in their
hands 10 the conscientious editor
there is a responsibility which at
taehes to his work that often makes
him shudder with dread Mt tho per-
iormance of the duties devolved upon
him to take position on questions
which arise. So many read and gulp
down what they peruse, without ques.
ton as to its accuracy in fact, or cor
RICHNESS of principle that to lead
these correctly is very grave respon-
slblity. That class who read and
analyze everything, is much preferred,
because no one likes to assume respon-
siblity for all the errors which falli-
bic human nature is certain to commit.
The Alliance Herald has always
sought to IMPRESS upon its readers to
read carefully and analyze closely
everything any newspaper may state.
eschewing the false ana accepting the
correct as they read.
If all would do this correct public
sentiment would be formed. Correct
sentiment would enforce righteous
policies and wholesome and salutary
government would be the result. This
is the beginning OF government in
this country. 1t is the seed planting
from which all the budding forth and
iruition of policies and incidents to
government have their start.
One OF the most common tricks in
newspaperdom is to adroitly WELD
sophistry SO us to mislead the careless
or obtuse. A false premise, with a
grain of truth in it which the reader
will recognize while all the other
statements are unknown to him. is
made the basis from which deductions
are made which, of course being
made from false premises will be false,
but rs the reader does not know tho
facts about the premises. he only in
quires us to the legitimate manner
in which the deduction is made,
and il that is correct he
accepts all and is deceived.
Another very common usage. par
in campaigns, is racket.
A liJtle trivial matter that Of itself
to nothing is introduced
either as u terrible thing, without any
or by mysterious illusions and
terrible lorebodings of coming
storm, it is gradually brought to the
surface the reader having IL inn
pressed upon him in all It's enormity
before he knows exactly what it is.
1t is adroitIy worked by combination
Of mauipulators, who add u little or
twist it somewhat but keep on the
main line TO impress that it is terrible
and awful. After it has gone several
weeks it bursts. The public is edu-
Gated TO believe that the victim is ex-
pected TO answer every perverslon.
every feature, and all that was said
II he does not then he is harpoOLed
FOR not meeting it like man." II
he does his utterances are perverted,
his motives aspersed and his inten.
lions tried TO be shown to be unworthy
DR. dishonorable. The racket monger
Is the meanest liar and most despic-
able wretch with which newspaperdom
Is ever cursed. II the public would
lnalyze him and his methods, instead
d his victim. and scrutinize carefully
now he works. with reminder OF con-
.empt for his tricks II would correct
his infamous business which is so
thoroughly worked in every campaign.
These two variations from correct
in manipulating public senti-
nent are only illustrations OF many
tricks in the tra3e They are the
most common and usual which are
employed. Nearly every reader OF a
paper finds one or the other Of these
ricks particularly If the paper is a
bitter partisan.
Every man GXerts more or less in
luence upon public sentiment Those