The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-16

Nothing so fills the public mind with
wonder and awe as the boasted independ-
ence in thought and action Of a certain
class of newspapers. The mental processes
Of the average man are apt to run In
grooves, and his conduct being In conform
ity Herewith lays him open to the charge
of being consistent. Having expressed his
Views upon any given question and acted
accordingly upon one occasion there is
good reason to believe that he will be
found on the same side when the same or
like problems are brought forward again.
This is contrary to the theory of inde-
pendence upon which a newspaper or the
class mentioned bases its behavior. To be
independent according to its ideas is to
advocate one principle of political or social
ethics one day and be equally strenuous in
support of a principle diametrically oppo-
site the next. Thus, for example, 1T will
preach with vehemence the doctrine of free
trade and follow it's arguments by others
in favor Of the election Of presidential
candidate who represents the protection
idea. 1t practices the see-saw act and
sings the song. Here We CO. up, up, up;
there we go, down, down, downy, and the
more regular the vibrations the more near
ly it believes itself to have achieved the
coveted freedom from hampering bonds OF
party or creed. 1t proudly declines to be
In harmony with itself and thereby fondly
flatters itself that 1t possesses a broad and
liberal outlook. A beautiful illustration OF
this peculiar reasoning can be found
In recent issues OF local
evening paper. A few weeks ago
it was a good paper, truly good pa
per- fit to enter the most fastidious house.
hold after its news columns were expur-
gated, and with editorial essays warranted
TO put readers to sleep inside of ten min
utes. 1t was particularly solcitous at this
time about the morals of the dear people
These morals were in danger Of being over
thrown by Sunday baseball. and the inde-
pendent paper nearly wore itself into fraz-
zles in its effort to ward off the threatened
evil. 1t made no difference if the dear peo-
pie, the people who toll six days In the
week until the going down Of the sun. had
no other tine than Sunday for the enjoy
ment of su IN sports; Sunday baseball they
should not have. They did not get 1t, and
perhaps by way of recovering from their
disappointment, went out to parks on sun
day and danced and indulged in revelry
that is classed by the persons who do not
profess to be independent as desecration
of the day of rest. Rev. Mr.. Milburn, Tor
instance declared that baseball is holiness
itself compared to such PROCLAMATION OF
the Lords day; it is morality apotheosized
lifted up and crowned as compared with
this goddess, Racchanalian perversion or
the holy Sabbath" But the independent
paper which was but yesterday so anxious
about the working peoples welfare and
morals now pleads that Sunday is their
only day, that If they want to indulge In
the orgies that Mr.. Milburn aludes to they
have a right to do, and nobody should dare
to criticise.
1t is all trine bewidering to persons
whose minds are not agile enough to en-
gage in the see-saw game but to discern
ing observers who have noted the process
before no mystery is involved 1t is simply
an invitation to erstwhile subscribers who
were hit with a baseball to come back and
be petted by one who dearly loves them
again-temporarily.