Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-11
s.x-rb, Power of the Press.


r,o common which Rev. DR.. Landrum
delivered in his church on SUNDAY
ming last was thoughtful discussion ~
the Sunday question and the power oil ,"e
,ress. or course. we feel free TO cii''0'
IN. pulpit utterances OF any clersyha"
~bo takes the liberty Of crlticisihs Inv
,,,,ersnces OF the press. But we are siau
70 be able TO say that we have no "o'Os
% sansure for Dr. Landrum. lie Hau
studied his sermon before ne gave II -
his congregation. Besides, we are "o'
so wanting In understanding a.
",acsle" a preacher talking from the pun
nit. And we intend TO say but II"
words touching DR.. Landrum sermon oi
last Sunday evening.
Dr Iandram says. truly. that the news
naner is an evolution. He taxes
the world as il IS. and makes the best
of il. hoping always. and not without
reason. that the world is growing better.
we suppose that the pulpit Is apier 10"
than A. ever was before. We suppose. too
that with all its numerous short-con-
inss--its deeds of omission and commas
SiOn-tne newspaper II D'e'NA '''' -
was before. Yes. the paper OF to-day Il
the product of evolution and THE thins
that has been is the thing that shall be.
The newspaper Of the future will also be
the product Of evolution, and Dr. Lam
drum does well to recognize the prospec-
tive fact.
Journalism IL necessity Of the age.
II is the book of the millions. None are
TOO poor 10 buy a newspaper. Newspa-
pers are read where nothing else Is READ.
Newspapers are sent by thousands
through the mails. instead of letters, ana
they are with many-very many-the only
medium Of communication. All the people
read the papers" Therefore we are ready
10 Join with Dr. Landrum in holding the
newspaper up TO its lofty mission. Here
let us remind the reader that the New
York World was started as a religious
daily. but its owners soon found that
.he public would not support it. What is
it now?
Here is a good hint. We quote DR.. Lam
drum:
Nor do | sympathize with those cap
tious critics who get hot in the head
whenever a newspaper publishes some
Thing they don't believe or don't Ike,
and snatch up a pen and dip it in eall
and write. Stop my paper What fools
we mortals be- There is not Richmond
paper morning paper or afternoon paper,
that is always right in morals or politics
or practical reform. OF course not. How
can they be- when there is not one OF
Them that always agrees with me?'
DIR. Landrum tells how h once en-
deavored to get a good article into
newspaper, but succeeded only in getting
"A very poor substitute for 1t into the
editors columns Also. how many thou
sands Of persons have had the same ex-
perienoe.
We quote Dr. Landrum again. lie holds
that Sunday newspaper ought TO be a
Sunday newspaper:
Especially ought the Sunday newspaper
20 be held TO strict account by the
good people Of this community. 1t is
great power: shall II be a power for good?
Some good people say there ought to be
no Sunday newspaper at all. They ar
ragn ii on several distinct charges. They
say it works printers on Saturday night
way on till Sunday morning If so, that
Is wrong. The printers should have their
Sunday rest. But, | submit. would il not
he worse TO have a Mountaineering
paper? \ Woodworking paper would
require the printers and editors TO work
all the Sunday night previous and the
reporters all the Sunday. also. Would that
be right? In many cities they have
Mountaineering edition. and that is
worse than a Sunday edition. Directors
also say IL is wrong 20 distribute sun
ray-morning papers Who distributes
them? ] am told that the subscribers re-
Qulre that. not the publishers The pub
fishers will authorize your Sunday-morn-
Ing paper 20 b. distributed on Monday
morning If you prefer. Directors say too
many people read the Sunday paper
during hours they should be AT church.
Yes. that is true. And some people sleep
away hours they should spend in Gods
house. and some eat away hours they
should pass In holy praise and prayer.
And some actually sleep in church Itself.
unless there is snuff enough In the ser
mon
Let the Sunday newspaper be sun
day newspaper indeed and | imagine
the preachers will slip in sermon every
week" says DIR. Landrum. Yes. and as
the editor sill probably have room for
not more ,han one each week what
innumersble mistakes he VIII make in
choosing tha, sermon.
Or. Landrum's sermon Is distinct ad-
vance along The lines which the clergy
viii. like all other men, be sure TO fol-
low.
L. n