The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-12
SENATOR TELLER ON THE NEwsPA-
PFRS.

There was truth in almost all Mr.. Tel
Ter said on Saturday. in the United States
Senate, regarding the newspapers of the
country, but most of it was SO presented
as to be misleading and perverted The
newspaper of the present day is certainly
run, as ne said. very much like a manu-
factory, and with an eye to the making
Of money much more than to the forma-
ton OF healthy public opinion He
was also right in saying that the press
has no longer any Horace Greedy. Mr..
Greedy was a very great man and a very
great writer. He made his newspaper a
financial success and he would never
have published 1t If he had not hoped
that ne would be able to do that very
thing. STILL Horace Greedy was a man
who valued the influence for good which
he might make his paper WELD far more
than the wealth that 1t was capable Of
bringing him. When the paper had at
tanned a position that maintained itself
and gave him a reasonable support, his
desires on the money side of the invest
was to make 1t a power for increasing
the happiness of mankind Mr.. Teller
was right when he said that that type Of
editor has been obscured Though we hope
that the present idea in newspaper pub
fishing is to establish factory that will
make the largest possible cash-yield for
the capital invested
Nevertheless ne was away OFF in argu-
Ing that even these newspapers fail TO
reflect public opinion as public opinion
exists. The newspaper is to be regarded
as an agency with two sides TO it, 1t
collects facts and spreads them before
the world, and its success as a mercantile
venture is proportional TO the accuracy
with which 1t does this. II 1t does this
correctly IL is subscribed for and read.
II 1t does it inaccurately no one reads
what 1t has to say. Mr.. Teller may
feel sure, therefore, when he reads state
ments In the newspapers Of the day OF
facts that have a bearing on the Sherman
~.
If he goes on with his prearranged course
paying no attention 10 the statements re-
garding public feeling and opinion which
the newspapers make, he will find himself
taken up on a short turn by public
opinion and he will find that the places
| that knew him will know him no more.
1t Is different with the editorials of
newspapers. These, Of course, are what
the owners Of paper choose that they
shall be. The day when the Greelys and
| John NJ. Daniels not only owned the
paper but wrote its editorials is gone, in
the main, though perhaps it is returning.
Mr.. Teller is perfectly right therefore.
in paying no attention TO the editorials
of newspapers beyond what the power
and force OF their arguments require of
him. but he viii make grievous mis-
take If he refuses TO heed the statements
Of fact which the newspapers make,
merely because the newspapers are owned
by parties VINO seek TO use them as
money producing manufactures. They
produce money an proportion 10 the
iruthfulnessl with which they gather
facts. He may therefore feel perfectly
sure, when the newspapers represent
the whole country as in state of fer
ment and demanding the repeal Of the
Sherman law, that they are truly repre-
senting the state Of public opinion. and.
IL Mr.. Teller goes on with his predeter-
mined resoi' to perpetrate the balefui
influence o. that law he will find out 10
his cost that the newspapers told him
the truth, when 1t is perhaps too late
| for him TO seek shelter from that storm
of public opinion which the newspapers
kindly advised him was rising up against
| him.