New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05
NEUSP1PERS AND THE PUBLIC.

NEWSPAPERS AND THE PUBLIC
Philanthropy and public spirit have great
many discouragements and drawbacks 10 en-
counter In a cold, ungrateful world. Inc lot
of newspapers which render public service OF
the highest importance, not only to the COM
munities which bask in their immediate sun
shine. but to the whole world and all mankind
is peculiarly hard in this regard. The tendency
TO award credit to the undeserving, or withhold
it altogether when n newspaper mas rolled up
its sleeves and brought about some great re-
form by sheer force of the powerful influence
cxerted on public opinion through its editorial
writer's. correspondents and reporters. and the
large body of earnest and thoughtful young
persons who circulate it with so much energy
ut the low price of two or three cents copy
cannot have escaped general observation. 1t
has certainly boon remarked and not without
n certain sadness bordering on dscoura cement
in the offices Of the newspapers themselves
Nothing is so depressing to great newspaper
as the thought that after it has aroused the
natrotism of whole community, or perhaps
the entire Nation, by stirring appeals continued
day after day for a long period ut the low price
TO the individual citizen Of two cents an ap-
neal. the community or the Nation goes right
along attending to its ordinary occupations, I'M
apprecative unmindful, and as one might say
regardless.
More dscouraging STILL cxaspcratng evcn
is it when great newspaper has averted dis
aster and saved the country from Impending
ruin by compelling the President to listen TO It's
advice and Congress to legisate under its d-
rection to be almost completely overlooked
when the victory has been gained, while the
credit for it is given to the President or to Con
gress, or perhaps divided up among people
whose patriotism never would have been reused
but for the kndng given it by the newspaper
through long period Of time at the incom-
parably low price Of two cents kindle 1t
has also frequently happened that when
great newspaper has thrown itself INTO me
breach, and warded off pestilence by double
loaded remarks addressed with great energy
TO some person in authority, there has been
mean narrow and low-livcd disposition to at
tribute the health of the community TO natural
causes Cases where great newspapers have
nut down combinations tn raise the price OF coal
and defeated the wicked conspiracics of trusts
and received no credit for it except such rs
they took in their own columns in conspicuous
type are unhappily common. They only Illus
trate still further the utterly indcfenslble RICK
of appreciation on the part OF the people OF
philanthropic public spirit as far-reaching and
comprehensive as it is persistent and low
priced.
It NAV be asked, Why do not these great
newspapers correct the evil by calling atten-
ton to their public services in their own widely
circulated columns?" Well, in some instances
they do. Indeed. in many instances. Perhaps
most instances They have been forced TO do
it. Unwillingly, of course. For the great news
paper is not ignorant of the light in which that
nerson IS viewed who thrusts himself before
the public whenever anything OF unusual in
terest takes place and insists that because he
was instrumental in bringing it to pass OBJ
seryation and admiration should be centred on
him. And the great newspaper knows that II
the individual in such cases is regarded as Il
nuisance similar behavior on its own part
would expose it to similar criticism. On the
other hand is the consciousness on the part of
the newspaper that II it does not point with
determination and persistence to itself as the
source origin and moving cause of most OF the
benefcent results Of human endcavor injustice
may be DONE and an altogether wrong slant
given to history Love Of justice and loyalty
to truth triumph in the end over mOdesty, diff
dence and self-distrust. At the call of duty the
great newspaper steps forward and unhesitat-
ingly admits that it did lead the successful
movement, and avows its responsibility there
for. The practice has now become so common
that IL a comet coming this way head on were
suddenly DETECTED from its destructive errand
every citizen would know for n certainty that
the planet was saved by dOuble-leaded appeals
from some leading newspaper and would cheer
fully pay two cents the next morning to find
out which one it was.
THE TRIBUNE views with much satisfaction
the self-sacrifc cling promptness with which its
CONTEMPORARIES admit their responsibility for
everything beneficcnt and useful that happens.
II rejOices to see them so well satisfied. For
its own part, it has weakness for certain old
fashioned notions which hold 1t back from
admring itself in its own columns. But that
does not prevent it enjoying that sort of thing
in its able, enterprising, energetic and public
spirited contemporaries.
---------------
THE LATEST yNFI ALTON