Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-19

by William II. Hill, editor Of the Morn
ina NeBs, before the members of the
Men and Women Club in the New
Century Club rooms, on the occasion
of recent discussion upon the question
of 1.-THE Comparative Influence of
Newspapers, Magazines and Books
The greater portion of my life has
been passed in the atmosphere of the
newspaper office, and II may not be ego
tislic for me to feel qualified, as well as
prepared, to declare the influence of the
press upon the communicate its
widest sense-to be both for good and
for evil. That Is so-just as u man of
strong mental power and GOOD inten-
tions exerts an influence for good in the
community in which he lives, and just
as an equally strong man, but with evil
Intentions, is an influence for bad in his
especial community. There is no ques-
ton, however, that the prevailing in
fluence Of the newspaper press is in the
direction of all that is helpful, all that
Is useful, and all that tends to benefit
mankind.
This is the newspaper era. The daily
paper is the mirror OF the times, into
which the people look with the same
regularity that they consult their mir
rors of glass. Its the mirror which re-
fleets the times as they are from day to
day. 1t is the mirror which reveals
TO the people of one part of the world,
or to the people of one part of
country, what the people in other parts
of the world, or ia other parts of
q country, are doing and saying.
The newspaper scatters broadcast re-
ports of what thoughtful men and
women are doing to better their fellow
men, and what they are doing to better
themselves. The newspaper uncovers the
misdeeds of men and unmasks those
who are masquerading in the guise of
honest folk In these two opposite di-
rections the estimate of the influence of
the press cannot be exaggerated. am
often impressed with the fact that the
newspaper-that is the reputable press,
and it is largely reputable-is one of the
most potent, if not the most potent,
agency in educating the masses OF the
people; perhaps not directly, but yet in
directly and unconsciously. Newspapers
reach where books and magazines do
not and cannot reach. They are con-
tinually providing material for study
and for thought, and they are continu-
ally suggesting plans for action and
progress.
The newspaper of to-day is COM
paratively new cTeation-and reference
IL only made to what is actually news.
paper. 1t is the result of generation
of mental and mechanical development.
Prior to the civil war there were but few
newspapers, as we now understand the
term, available to the people of this
country. The village paper gave weekly
the gossip of the village for the preced-
ing seven days, and the metropolitan
papers had but limited circulation out
side of the respective cities in which they
were printed. They were, however, ac-
cepted as the most infallible guides of
those who read them. At that time
there was some one man identified in a
personal sense with each paper, and it
was his personality that carried weight
and influence. Nearly every newspaper
reader had his personal idols, who were
prominent, either in their capacity as
editors of metropolitan journals or as
active participants in political affairs, to
whom he bowed and paid homage. The
views and opinions of those idols were
accepted without question, except posi-
bly, as to some minor details. But q
radical change has taken place. There
is no longer an idolized 81" in every
newspaper office, and political leaders,
except IN rare instances, no longer have
armies OF blind followers tramping in
their wake. The 1--WE" has taken full
possession, but even the tive" does not
have the same idolatrous worship that
the 81" did.
The advantages of the telegraph, the
telephone, the mails, and the railroads
have broughtinto life innumerable news
papers, with as innumerable ideas
of what is needed to save the country
and to better the human race. 1t ispos-
sible for almost any person in the United
States to read every day before break.
fast the story Of what the world did the
day before, in fact what it had already
done that morning. The names of the
newspapers themselves have taken the
places of the names of the men who
were formerly known as the editors.
But the newspaper of to-day gives the
views and opinions not only of one man,
but oftener Of score of men of equal
intelligence. The result is that the
newspaper reader-and the man who
does not read at one newspaper regularly
is always behind the times-is thinking
more than ever for himself. The news.
paper furnishes him with the material
for thought, and with the thoughts of
the brightest men of the world. He has
within his reach all shades of opinions,
and he is impelled, If he reads intelli-
gently, to think for himself.
The newspaper may no longer be ac-
cepted as conclusive authority, so far as
its opinions go, but it is considered a
never-failing storchouse from which to
obtain facts, theories, and general in
formation upon which to base personal
and individual conclusions. 1t is the
directing force of public opinion. 1t
always leads.
The tone of the average newspaper
is good, despite the pessimistic criticisms
which are heard every day. Of the
newspapers which pander solely or
mainly to the morbid tastes of the yul-
gar and ignorant, | have nothing to do
now. They do not represent the press as
Whole--and in the broad sense in
which it deserves to be, and in which il
should be considered-any more than
the poor wretches who keep our crimi-
nal courts employed represent any par
ticular community. They are alike enc
mics of society. The first aim of news.
paper is to obtain and print the news,
whether it be the news of crime, of re.
ligion, of politics, of commerce, or any.
thing else. Its aim in that direction is 10
inform its readers as clearly and as
truthfully as possible of what the world
has been doing, whether such news be
pleasing or dspleasing. It's second aim
IS to consider and comment upon tho
leading events of the day; to criticise
men and methods when criticism il dc.