The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-22
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM.

1t is q curious fact in journalism in
the United States that within the past
quarter OF century the press has grad
ually and perhaps insensibly aligned
and identified itself with one or other
OF the great political parties. Time was
when the great papers OF the country
were independent of party, and were as
quick to see the errors and expressions
OF one political organization as those OF
any other. But by impsrcsptible degrees
the great newspapers drifted from their
judicial position Of holding the political
scales with stern evenness between the
contending parties-reprobating wrong
wherever it was found, and approving
the right no matter how advantageous it
might be to the party doing it.-and fell
into the unwholesome position OF mere
organs. The attitude Of the press when
1t reaches this stage is not that
which is best or even good for
the general veal. Its influence becomes
hide-bound, and party lines mark the
extent of its possible wholesome effect
upon public opinion. If the paper is
welded to the peculiar interests OF the
Democratic party, then its influence on
questions of morals and polity end with
the limits of that party. If Republican,
whatever it says is measured in the
partisan balance and loses its force upon
public opinion within the lines of those
who adhere to the opposition party. So
that really political organ degensrates
into mere factional advocate, and can
never reach the heart of the whole body |
Of the people.
We do not mean to be understood that |
a partisan newspaper cannot in great
questions rise above more party con-
siderations; but we do mean to say that
those newspapers have q great dead
weight to overcome when their sense of
right compels them to ignore party
preJudices and become the champ ion of
q general cause. A newspaper should be
Independent Of all entangling alliances
that operate to lesasn its power to do
effective work in behalf of the whole
people. A party organ, in the nature OF
ts being, can only represent moiety OF
he interests OF the country in its
advocacy OF public questions. 1t
cannot do justice as between con-
ending opposites when the whole
weight OF its power and svmpsthies lie
unlisted on one side. And newspaper,
% meet the full measure of its power for
mi ut I'D
pendence. 1t must DE tied to the public
veal alone, or it falls into the rut of
,ne.sided vehicle of partisan advocacy.
By degrees it slides into the delusive
condition that there is only one right
tide to ali questions; that the party 1t
sdheres to ia the exponent OF that right
tide, and that az it is the oracle OF its
party, it is the champion of the right,
irst, last and all the time. A journal in
uch an atmosphere cannot conceive
hat the half of the community, who
sonestly hold the opposite view, can by
my possibility be right, with the in.
'vitsble conclusion that the "other fell
ows" are wrong. No philosopher can
ook upon such q reduction to the alb.
urd without revulsion.
The great newspapers OF the future
will be those that have Independence
'nough to rise above parties and think
md print for the whole people and not
or nero fraction of the people which.
n great public questions. will not be
led to the apron strings OF party and
70 blindly wherever it leadeth. but
vhich will think and act for the best in
erests of the whole community, ire
pective OF the wishes of those petty but
Ictive minds that regulate, manipulate
ind pull the wires that make political
concrete through what
Minor Bolts used to call ''the cohesive
ponds Of public plumber"