Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-26
A POWER FOR GOOD OR EVIL
The Great Influence Exerted
by the Press.
AND, MAINLY ON THE MORAL SIDE
Unprincipled Editors the Elk
~ oeption to the Rule.
Reply to n Preacher Who Prayed for the
Salvation of EditOrs--The Enormous
aud Untrammeled Responsibility Rest
ling Upon Conductors of the Press, and
How Rarely it Is Abused.
Now Yorl, sun, April IS.


Now York sun, April 1s.
The Rev. A. G. Dixon interrupted an
exhortation to sinners at the revival
meeting at Niblo's Garden on Monday
by praying for the salvation Of editors.
That was very proper supplication,
for, next to the church, the most power
full engine for good or evil in modern
civilization is the newspaper press. 1t
is of the highest Importance to society
that editors should be, first of all and
always, men of religious principle.
Every newspaper should be religious
paper, in the sense that it obeys the
obligations of religion.
The whole number of newspapers in
the world is now estimated at more than
$4,000, and of that great total nearly
one-hulf are published in the United
States and Canada. The combined cir
culation of the newspapers of this coun-
try alone far exceeds the number of its
churchgoers. Their editors address u
much greater multitude of people than
the clergy reach in all their services.
They influence vast numbers who are
altogether outside of the church, and
who never listen to the sermons of its
appoiated ministers. Even the present
efforts of the Rev. Mr.. Dixon and his
associates to stir up revival in New
York depend largely for their success on
the assistance Of the newspapers in
drawing the public attention TO them.
Without the newspapers to help them
| they cannot attract to their meetings the
crowds necessary to generate the enthu-
siasm essential TO the prosperity OF their
spiritual enterprise. With the editors
working in a contrary and an evil direc-
ton, they would have opposed to them
the most dangerous enemy in modern
society. The most powerful ally the
devil could get would be the daily news
| papers.
The many thousands of editors in the
| United States are subject to no other
| code of ethics than that established by
| their own consciences under the pres
sure of public opinion. They do moi
have to pass any official examination
for admission to their profession, like
that which lawyers must undergo fol
admission to the bar. They are moi
bound by the oath and the legal re
stricttons which bind the practitioners
of medicine. They are under nc
authority like that which the church
exercises over its ministers. There i.
no precise test of their qualification!
applicable when they undertake to be
editors, and no court or council is EN-
powered to determine their fitness or tc
punish them for their professional mis-
behavior. Any man can start news
paper, if he has money enough to pay
for its manufacture, OF can get credi
for printing paper, ink and type setting
and, on this condition, he can keep i
he likes, providing that he does no
grossly offend the laws for the protec
ton of public decency. He can sell hi
paper or he can give it away. lie cal
charge what he pleases for it; and cal
advocate any principles or theories il
religion or politics he wishes, if he keep
within the broad and elastic require
ments of the law. He is free agent.
How, then, do the many thousand
of editors in the United States use thi
extraordinary liberty? AS body, thert
is no learned profession, however stric
its code of ethics and however sever
the accountability to which it is held b
professional rule and etiquette, whic
is more faithful to its moral obligation
than this great multitude Of editors. o
course, there are some swindlers an
constituencies scoundrels in their rank!
but they are few, both comporativel
and actually, not as many relatively
perhaps, as the unprinclpled quackc i
medicine, the ghysters at the bar, an
the reprobates who make the mlnistrI
tons of religion cloak for wicked pul
poses. The thousands of editors al
scattered over the Union, In every com
munity, both great and small, and MOI
than any other men they are subject
, the constant criticism of the community
I so that their offences and shortcoming
: cannot be concealed. This very exis
ence depends, in the long run certainl!
, on their securing and meriting the pull
lie respect and confidence.
They are not under the pains an
penalties of formal professional cod
, of ethics, but of necessity there prevail
!. among them II code established by the
/, own consciences which is none the les
,, real, and to which they render volul
, tary obedience not less full. There
among them professional honor {
high as any formulated in the tixc
rule and law for any Of the lcarnc
!, professions. They hold each other u
> D. md public opinion judges the
The editorial Offenders again
uwrittcn code are black shee
. more readily distinguishabie fro
/. lne rest OF the fraternity than Il
nharlatans and humbugs in medicine al
, the church; and these dsreputab
editors are all the more notorious b
. cause of their rarity. As whole, Il
!, people have no servants more faithf
= or more valuable to them than Il
. thousands of editors who furnish the
= with the chief part of their reading.
'' We are sure, however, that all editc
will be thankful for any sincere praye
that may he offered up in their bcha
q with d view to obtaining for the
y greater strength for the exercise of thu
n responsible function.
II BOXING AND URESTLING EVEN
"a Local Snarrers and WrestlerS to EShil