The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-04
IT DOES A HEAP OF GOOD
That's Rev. Dir. Shsphard'S Opinion Of
the N3Tipapsr.
THE SUNDAY SHEET, TOO
a Thoughtful Sermon BY an Eio-
ouent Butte Minister Upon
the Subject of
the Press.

ana the Daliy IapeTs'
1.-THE man who does not read the daily
paper" said the speaker, takes himself
out of the world in a large and important
sense. The daily paper may be seen with
profit on the background of Christianity,
and it is upon this ground that shall try
to draw its form and color for your con-
slderation. The daily paper is mirror
which reflects the world. Men and women
do certain things and the paper reflects
their work. 1t is not like the conscience
or moral faculty of an individual, but like
his face, on which his thoughts and acts
are written. There is some truth in the
saying that a daily paper has no con-
science, but this cannot with justice be
construed to mean that the paper is de-
void of principle. We don't say that n
mans face has no principle. 1t may be
engraved with the marks of high honor or
deep corruption, but IT is not itself free
and responsible and moral being. IL Is
rather the sign board of the business of
the heart and mind.
THE daily paper is a mirror which, like
all other earthly things and men, contains
some plans which cause distorted pictures
of the scenes which are reflected from its
surface. But just as We don't throw
away our mirrors because they don't give
exact and perfect images, SO VIC cherish
the daily paper as helpful institution IN
our houses and an honor TO American
ability and enterprise.
There are two harmful extremes in the
attitude OF men toward the daily press.
Ono extreme banishes the daily paper
from the home and from the mind. Be-
cause some readers stay at home on Sun
day morning to read the Sunday issue in-
stead of going TO church the Sunday
paper IS condemned and charged with
running souls and doing no good. because
unwholesome gossip sometimes stains IT'S
pages and the acts of sin and crime incltc
tho weak and vicious to increased deprav-
ity, the paper is upbraided as immoral.
Because in it's endeavor to DO punctual
with the news the facts are often badly
twisted, it is discarded as totally de-
ceptive. So tho daily paper Is condemned
and in refusing to take notice OF its
pages tho would-be mordllst wlthdraws
himself from the worlds interests and
sacrifices many opportunities TO serve
his fellow men.
"The other extreme surfeits the reader
with the literature of the daily press to the
exclusion of other and at least no less val
liable reading. The daiiS pages inAmerican
life is n marvel of brightness and ac-
curacy when one considers tho enormous
amount of matter which IT publishes and
the rapdity with which IL is gathered, put
together and given to the public. But il
necessarily contains too many errors of
fact and opinion and is too largely local
in its nature to do what its friends never
intend 10 have IT do-usurp the place of
other more permanent secular and re-
lCious writing.
the daily paper performs one function
which is peculiarly its own. Ii Is n me-
dunn of news. No better illustration of
the daily papers usefulness, as q news
carrier in time of death and suffering,
could he found than is afforded 10y the part
which Butte's papers have taken in facill-
tating the transmission and distribution
of aid devoted to the sufferers of the re-
cent sorrow.
There rs a heavy responsibility on tho
newspaper. Many tollcrs find in the daily
paper almost their only knowledge of the
world and of mon and things outside of
tho narrow sphere OF their toll. Their
sense of duty To- their country and their
ideas of right and wrong IN their dealings
with their neiGhbors, arc shaped and gov
erned by the daily paper"
Continuing, Mr.. Shepard said: "Tho
paper is in part an effect and in part a
cause. Many of it's faults are All effect.
These faults are imperiection but not
guilt. They are the result of the desire OF
the papers patron for these same evils.
Papers are published for circulation. The
paper that has subscribers is the one
which publishes what the public wants 20
read. The public makes tho paper and
not tho paper the public" The speaker
thought that IN some cases the
paper is guilty cause of wrong
whether the motive DO for money
or for revenge. When this is true the
daily paper is attacked with justice. But
justice should aim at Improvement rather
than at destruction. Unqualified con-
domination of any institution which, like
the daily paper, Is guilty OF these faults,
would shut tho doors OF every church and
close the mouth of every minister; for nc
church Is free from dishonest members
and no follower of Christ is sinless. Ii
would end all business for there is cor.
IN la ann laf
late our schools, for there is error in all
teaching. The daily paper has its faults
in common with all other public organs
and all men. In the matter of the daily
papers publication of sin and crime. II is
often safe source OF knowledge of tho
things we have to know. II protects the
public from great fatality TO morality and
life. The daily paper Is a strong ally foI
philanthropic work FOR the reformation
of tho criminal and sinner. Concealmen
causes crime 10 flourish. The Bible pub
fishes the sins of Israel without abbrevIa
ton or Partially. We don't hear of eN
purgated Bibles. l don't know why TN,
cry is loud for the eXpurgation of the daIll
papers. The public makes the daily paper
The character of a people decides tn,
character of it's paper. To condemn tn,
daily paper is To condemn Its readers
When We look at the paper on oil it's side
we wonder not why il IS no better but why
II IL no worse. And we rejoice in it's sue
cess as a towering monument of Ameri
can ability and power. shaping influence
in our national life which has no second
The remedy for its faults lies in tn,
American home. All morality starts il
family life. The home has two allies II
its control of public morals, with its news
paper These are the school and tn
church. They are dependent upon tn,
home.
AMEaICA'5 ARMY OF TRAMPs
Nearly 10000 People, Who Cost tn
Country About SO 900 900 Annually.