The record-union., 1895-03-01
MARCUS D. BORUCK ON THE PRESS
He Tells of What 1t Once Was, and
Now Is.
An Interesting Lecture Delivered Last
Evening by the Veteran
Journalist.

Hon. Marcus d. Boruck delivered an
admirable address last night in the As
sembly Chamber to a large audience on
1.-THE Press-As It Was, as 1t is and as 1t
Should Be.''
He said the question might be asked
why, if an editor is killed, so much is
found in extenuation of the act. He did
not know whether he could answer the
question or not, but he should call their
attention to some things bearing on the
subject. The earlier printing in every
country seems to have been for the pro-
motion of religion, while the latter work
in that line has generally been the reverse
in its effect. While we are sometimes
disposed to regard the Catholic Church as
intolerant, the history of the Pilgrims
shows them to have been of the strictest
and most intolerant type. Sir William
Berkeley thanked God that Virginia had
no newspapers or free schools and the
first paper published in Massachusetts
was suppressed. The newspaper now
voices public opinion, criticises official
and judicial action and largely directs
legislation. There has been a great de-
terioration in late days in the editorial
leaders, which several years ago were ex
ponents of the highest ability. lofty and
dignifed and couched in the best of
language. To-day they are largely made
up of libelous and insulting personal at
tacks and are thrown together in scraps.
The newspaper heSltateS long time
before it sells its editorial columns. 1t
very often happens, however, that the
editorial right hand does not know what
the left hand does and the editorials may
be found denouncing in round terms
things that appear elsewhere in the col
umns. There is nothing in Mol
Flanders or the "Newgate Calendar
that is not paralleled in the columns of
the San Francisco press. 1t is not the
mere mention OF such things that is OBJ
jectionable, but the manner in which
they are written and the details that are
given.
He instanced what the daily press of
San Francisco did in the case Of Sontag
and Evans. So it is in the Debs insur-
rection, the outrages in which were en-
couraged by the San Francisco press
until the murder at the trestle broke the
power of that press. OF all the great
San Francisco was the only one that
upheld the strikers. These papers say
that they only give the public what it
wants, but he denied that the public taste
demanded this style of reading. He
could only refer TO the filthy advertise
neHlS, DIS the subject COulU Ddfuly Dc
discussed here. Another outrageous
feature was the intrusion into private life
and family affairs. The daily press of
San Francisco has been the stumbling
block IN the way of its prosperity.
He was friend of the railroad, and had
always been openly SO. The trouble is
not from the open friends of the railroad.
People admire an open friend, rather
than the one who skulks in the alley and
fears to be seen entering its office.
He was not alone in favor of the rail-
road, but of all corporations that will de-
velop the State. The press is the real
octopus that is crushing the State. If the
press of San Francisco had not been pur-
chased there would be no octopus to-day.
The papers fought the railroad, not for
the people, but for the California Steam
Navigation Company, the stage company
and the express company.
The valley road was not due to the San
Francisco press, but to the Spreckels
family. The press have given Sutro to
San Francisco as Mayor, and specula-
tive newspaper was now asking for q
smelling committee; it is not the people
who ask it. If San Francisco is so rotten
as the press says, let it put.up its shutters
and go out of business; but it denied that
it was so. 1t is a great and progressive
city, and great and good men have resided
there and left their legacy. AS long az
Golden Gate Park exists the name of w.
w, Stow Will be remem bered.