Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-16
The Newspapers and the Public.

One Of the great secrets OF the popular
ity of Chauncey NJ. Depew has been the
uniform courtesy with which he has used
the representatives Of the press. Proba-
bly,, no man in America enjoys, today, SC
many warm friendships in the newspaper
fraternity as Mr.. Depew. He has been
as much written about as almost any
American citizen, and is interviewed on
some subject almost every day Of the year
and yet he says that he has never been
misrepresented by newspaper men, except
by accident, and occasionally by inca
pacity. Mr.. Depcw is never too busy to
use the representatives of the press IN an
oblioing manner He admits that he has
reached the position of eminence he occu-
pies largely through the assistance of the
newspapers, as when he began his career
he was often hungry for newspaper recog-
milton. He will delay meal, or stop a
train, or get up in the night, to give in
formation to reporters who call upon him,
and whom he is proud to say have never
yet betrayed his confidence.
Much has been written about the sensa-
tionalism of American newspapers, and
there is, doubtless, just room for criti-
clsm in this respect. There are, however,
many features of the American press of
which the citizens of the United States
may feel justly proud. Venality has
never been n short coming of American
journalists. The press of this great coun-
try is probably the most incorruptible OF
any in the world 1t is independent, fear
less outspolzen. Every great reform that
as been accomplished in this country since
the adoption of the constitution, has had
behind it an earnest newspaper backing.
To the newspapers of New York city, far
more than to the much advertised DR..
Parkhurst, who owes his reputation chiefly
to the newspapers is due the magnificent
overturn of the corrupt Tammany ring
in New York city.
The American newspaper is the enemy
of fraud and pretence; the unsparing ex-
poser of official incapacity and corrup-
ton, and the promoter of every noble and
progressive sentiment that finds birth in
the community. 1t hates bigotry, either
in religion or politics, opposing with all
it's energies the little narrOwness that has
wandered so long amid the tomb stones OF
antiquity that it seems to have forgotten
that there is any such thing as modern
life, progressiveness, and thought. Hence
the newspaper has never been a sympa-
thizer with that class of religious zealots
who conduct nineteenth century "heresy
trials" in the greatest republic upon tho
face of the earth. Accustomed to frank
ness and freedom of expression, newspaper
men cannot bring themselves to look
favorably upon any class of men who I'M
dertake to force the minds of other men
into intellectual rait-jackets.
Mon who deal frankly with the press OF
this country rarely have their confidence
abused. Newspapers are always quick to
respond to such royal natures. 1t is only
little, narrow, bigoted, fault-finding,
pompous, and selfconceitcd men to whom
newspapers are unresponsive. Journal
lists have better opportunity for the
study of human nature than are enjoyed
by the members of any other profession.
They see its noblest and meanest traits.
They come into contact with all manner
of men, with philanthropists, with pro
gressivc business men, with schemcrs,
self-see kers, and with a variety of kEaves
too extcnsivc.to be catalogued. They learn
to hate hypocrites, demagogues, quacks,
charlatans and sbysters of all degrees
and professions; and while their judg-
ments are often called in question, they
are generally sustained by time and the
logic of events.
Men who complain of newspapers are
generally those who do not subscribe for
them, but who makes practice of reading
them at somebody's else expense Every