Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-01-01
The Evolution Of a Commun-

A New Years edition gives splendid
opportunity 70 review the evolution Of
community. No one has closer op-
portunities TO make such study than
tbe Journalist. More than any other
professional occupation, journalism
brings lts deyotee into contact with all
that's best and worst of a community.
rts strongest and weakest members are
continually before his mental vision for
consideration Or criticism. One con-
tinuo0s revelation OF the good and the
bad passes 10 panoramic profusion
through the brain Of daily newspaper
and only the ehAstest intellect escapes
confusion IN the endless contemplation
Of what ls worst and best Of u commun-
ity.
II has been said that journalism con
duces 70 pessimlsm. The argument Ia
that those who engage 10 this pursuit
more than any other class Of educators
zee al that IL bad Of society and hu-
manlty. That daily familiarity With
crimes aud horrors, with police and
divorce courts. with drunkenness ana
immortality, undernines the individual
confidence la the preponderance Of
good over evil la the human family.
This Is not true. Journalists as class
are the hopefuIest of optimists. They
preach more Of the doctrine Of sunshine
and the daily bsnsfceuce aud blessed
ness OF lying, aud less Of belief 10 sin
and dspravity than even the clergy,and
stnnd 10 truer relation OF hopefnness
toward all humanity. The foundation
of Journalism IL not laid on the doctrpe
Of total depraviiy.
They see more than any other class
the strong and weak points OF indlyid-
lials and learn 10 balance them against
each other. The trained journalist
could on short notice tell the public
man, the minister Of the gospel, the
lawyer or business man just when he
h making . mistake or fool Of him.
Bslf sud 10 do 10 is quite frequently q
pressing inclination. But 1t is hardly
his province TO assume the role Of
monitor 10 individuals. He must
teach, II at all, collectively and aim al
public wrongs rather than at private
shortcomings. The Greatest Reformer
always struck at class abuses and
wrongful institutions. He forgave and
shislded the weakness and defects OF
indivlduals. He WAS crucified for ex-
posing and attacking corrupt religious
and political institutions. That is the
cross the journalist must bear as no
other profession. While the existence
OF the state requires the most unspar-
Ing aud constant exposure Of abuses, IL
Ii TO the interest Of the community
that II retain the largest service aud
unlmpaired usefulness OF the greatest
number OF ita citizens. The journalist
must be the consecrator OF the integrity
aud morality Of the men aud women
who compose the community. There
Ia not journalist In Oregon but saves
from tolly and self-des,ruotlon, by
from publicity the dis-
plays OF weakness, seliishness aud lnoa-
paclty, scores Of good aud useful units
of society In given community in the
course Of q single year. The relation Of
The journalist 10 the community ls not
That ofa dynamiter Of character or a
private executloner. He must be- able
10 soc grave defects aud even ludivldu-
Ala without Comment and hope only for
better things 10 future.
II Il the duty OF the journalist 10 be
helpfal 10 every other social worker.
His mlssIon 10 that OF mediator OF all
lbs oiher factors. The newspaper is
The universal solvent Of all the larrlng ,
'oclsl relations. II should not become
he co-Adiulor Of the worst. The Mer-
sufq could not longer live even In the
corrupted political atmosphere OF
aFge wicked city. A newspaper eau ,
lnly exist upon combination OF the |
'est things community has, it's wealth, 1
ntelllgcnce and morality. II cannot !
'xlsi OIL the worst. Hence 10 exist and
gsow strong Il must foster the best. Il
must promote the business Interests Of
community, IL schools. Its churches,
v Il dwars itself and no development,
4 the community is possible.
IL must sustain the best men aud
somen and help llfs up ths oA-comine =
In paths OF righteous
rowth,of u has 40 future. The eyolu.
'cn ol a communlsy Is the problem = =
hat lies a. the root Of true, consistent, = :
'elpfal journallan. /"