The morning call., 1893-09-13
THE MODERN NEWSPAPER.

The New York Sun and the Newport
Herald are carrying on a controversy over
the old theme, the ideal newspaper. The
Herald says that genuine independence
is perhaps the most desirable factor in the
Ideal daily paper. and that true indie
pehdenee espouses the cause of the many
against the few" To this the Sun replies
that honesty. brains, good humor and
knowledge Of the constitution, Shake
speare and the Bible" are the things most
desirable in paper; and that the ideal
Journal should espouse the cause of truth
and law, whether its course pleased the
many or the few. The New York paper
seems to have the best of the argument.
INDEPENDENCE" in a newspaper means
that the editor will not be controlled by
party. or clique. or boss; that the editor
Will voice his own views and those only {;
but II those views are wrong. by reason of
the wrongEeadedness of their author, the
paper will not gain much by it's 'inde-
pendence. Neither the majority Tor the
minority of readers ought to govern an
editor he should be guided by principle
and truth. II he sets public opinion utter
ly at defiance he will lose his readers; if
he knuckles to public error he will lose
the respect Of those whose respect is the
only foundation for abiding success. To
follow a majority of the people is to obey
the old adage about the vox populi; but it
sometimes recalls the Biblical warning
against following a multitude TO do evil.
Judicious editor will only approve when
conscience tells him he can approve; when
it does not so instruct him he can be silent,
II silence is consistent with the public
safety.
No one can read the newspapers of the
present day without perceiving that they
are steadily improving. The old notion
that the people are fools, and that they
must be fed with fool pap, is dying out.
Editors are beginning to realize that the
butcher and baker and candlestick -maker
know about as much. on the whole, as the
publishers of newspapers, and that it is
not sound policy to treat them as if they
were dOlts or feeble-minded. When that
notion becomes general, great deal of
stuff which journalists despise, but which
finds Insertion in newspapers on the plea
that "the public want it." will disappear
from the eye.
If the student of letters raises his view
above the borders OF the country in which
he lives, he will speedily incline to con-
vlction that the full development of mod
ern journalism is destined to come sooner
in this country than elsewh here. Nowhere
outside of the United States does the
newspaper exhibit an improving tendency.
The English newspapers are what they
were before the Crimean war-grave, SEN
sible, well Informed, we'll written, but
dull and ponderous, and written for class.
In Paris, newspapers are replicas of the
English papers OF the time of Queen Anne,
when Addison and Steele published the
Spectator and the Taller; they contain
ingenious essays in the most beautiful
French. but very little news, and conse-
quently very few advertisements. Here,
our papers are steadily approaching the
true ideal--that Is to say, faithful picture
of the times from all standpOints and in
every sphere, with honest, well-written
comments thereon, for The guidance of
those who have not time to read and digest
the record Of passing events.
1t is in that direction that the modern
journal will seek usefulness. with a firm
assurance that usefulness in that, as in all
departments of civilization. will bring It's
fitting reward.