The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-12-05
THE STANDARD OF NOBILITY.

Yesterday in conversation with a
prominent. attorney, we received quite a
lecture on the duties of the press. We
were told that the newspaper had a
holy mission to perform; that to it
should be, is, delegated the upholding of
heEtandard of public morality; that
on all occasions the newspaper should
be in the lead, taking a high moral
stand on all subjects, and lifting the
public up to that standard. The beauty
and force of the lecture was increased by
its absolute truth. Yet there is another
side to that question. The newspaper is
worldly; tits conducted for the purpose
of earning living, and in the delusive
hope of earning more.
The newspaper as it should be, and
the newspaper as it is, are two entirely
different things. Why? Because those
who read it make it what it is. Its sue
cess depends more on what Is kept out of
it than what goes into it. Let it take
the high moral standard our friend pic
tured for US, and inside of six months
one-half of its subscribers, one-halt of
its patronage, and mayhap more would
be gone, and from its subscription list
would be stricken, at his own request,
the name of the friend who SO kindly
lectured us. How would the same plan
of action suit our legal friend, and how
far would he go in lifting the standard
of public morals. Suppose, for instance,
he is employed to defend a murderer.
He is certain of his clients guilt. Does
he advise him to plead guilty, to repent,
to expiate his crime as the law, as hui
manity, as religion would dictate? No.
He begins to manufacture a defense !;
with subtle skill to weave from the evil
dence in the loom of fancy robe of in
nocence. He brings to bear upon the
court the delicate niceties of law; con-
tending inch by inch; driven from one
point, intrenching himself in another ;
but fighting for all he is worth. Beaten
in this, he turns to the jury. Every de-
vice known to the profession, every
sophistry that human ingenuity can in
vent, is brought to bear. For what?
In the interest of justice and law? No!
In the interest OF the client; IN the in
terest of the lawyer, whose reputation
increases as his ability to defeat and
render of no avail the laws, increases.
We are not finding fault with the law
yers, they have code of morals of their
own, the first and greatest command of
which is duty and faithfulness to those
who employ them but we draw the
comparison simply in.self-defense. We
cheerfully admit that venal bar is no
excuse for venal press; but we assert
that it is venal world. Does the mer.
chant who sells his goods thereby in
dorse the character of his customers
Is the smile with which he greets GUS
toners more than a portion of his stock
in trade? Does he, seek to "raise the
standard of morality" or does, he look
after the shekels? Surely the last, and
that only.
So is it with the newspaper. 1t is in
the field to live, and to do this it cannot
be much above or beyond its readers
The newspaper man must live. His
paper is his stock of goods, and by its
sale and the sale of its space he ekes out
an existence. He treats it as the mer
chant does his goods, the lawyer his
He furnishes the goods his customers
want; not those that perhaps in som,
other PERSONS opinion they need. H'
supplies the demand, and if he does not
loses his trade.