The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-05-25
JOURNALISM.
Its Mission and the Elevated Position 1t
Should Occupy in the Moral and Polit-
cal Education of the Masses.

| Its Mission and the Elevated fosition IL
Should Occupy in the Moral and Polit-
cal Education of the Masses.
DUFUR, May 81, 1895.
Editor TMEs-McUSTAISEEh:
The political education of the people
of all countries, except where despo-
| tism reigns, is the aim and duty of the
press. Our forefathers, in this great
country of ours, were wise and just to
establish press freedom for all time.
and thanks to this Institution our ma
ton has been enabled to make the
wonderful, progressive stride which
will be chronicled on the pages OF his
tory as d fact to inspire all coming
generations to promote liberal and
advanced policy. There can be no
question as to the press being the effi-
cient medium, the proper channel.
when the history of the past estab-
fishes the fact that the pen is mlghtler
than the sword; and the press has been
the propelling power behind the politi-
cal machinery of this country; the
active dynamo in reformatory progress
in its various branches. A man VINO
wants to be an active citizen OF this
country cannot therefore keep abreast
the requirements OF the times unless
he is diligent student OF the press.
And how man can claim to exact the
full right and privileges OF American
citizenship without being a careful
newspaper reader, is something that
cannot understand. He certainly can |
not understand his duties, and mas |
much as all rights and privileges are |
founded upon the basis of duty, in the |
of cause and effect, this right |
and privilege must necessarily suffer
abuse at his own hands, and therefore
be corrupt.
But with the assertion that the press
is the proper channel by which to con-
duct political education and enllght-
ment to the masses, it also stands to
reason that the conductors of that
work must be masters OF the sltua-
lions. A man who calls himself an
sditor Of any product of the press,
called newspaper, and knows naught
but to work his clippers and to fill the
columns of his sheet with crime and
items is no more the man in
MS place than a school teacher who
would disgrace the school room by re-
ating yarns and spook-stories to his
pupils, instead of imparting useful
and instructions. The
nan, however, who carefully weighs
he present and future by the past,
Who sits history and logically con-
,ludes upon political questions is as
much to be admired as the bravest
whose zeal leads his foot
teps into darkest Africa. His intel
ect, study and labor is entirely de-
'oted to the cause of public prosperity.
nd, besides a liberal pecuniary com
he deserves and is justly
ntitled to every moral encourage ,
1ent in his efforts.
This is the aim of these lines: | '
vish to say, that have been careful
eader of the leading articles of the
Es-MoUNTAINEER, and desire to
ay you my compliment for your cor g
ect and competent criticism of the t
uestions at issue. 1 wish to say that
our work bears the evidence of study, I
,gical intelligence and brave impair {
ality, and that these features cannot Y
Ill to gain many friends and admirers
, well as accomplishing the desired c
nd. t
Hoping that you may garner the O
oral fruits of your untiring efforts, n
insure you that they will always be E
ighly appreciated by yours, D. r