The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-01-09
Mr.. WHEELER ON THE PRESS.
Clergyman Discourses Eloquently bu,
Upon Mistaken Premises.

Upon Mistaken Premises.
A Chicago clergyman IS thus taken to
task by the Times-Herald:
Rev. J.. Kirtridge Wheeler delivered
what was intended DO be a sermon, but
was, in fact, a crude contribution to
commentaries on journalism, in the
Fourth Baptist Church, M recent Sum-
day.
Mr.. Wheeler described the London
Times as incorrupdble, and gave as his
conclusive proof that, although Lord
Randolph Churchill offered it q scoop"
on his p%etulant retirement from O cabi-
net anxious to get rid Of him, 1t would
not return the unfortunate politicians
favor by indorsing his puerle act In
asmuch rs TO have done 70 would have
been to Stultify its OWL position, the
Times, acing upon a principle which
prevails in journalism generally, de-
clined to recognize a sufficient consid-
Grafton in the commodity offered 1t
adhered to its editorial position, and
told Lord Randolph that he might take
his scoop" away with him sc far as
1t was concerned.
No fact, however, IS moe monument
al in the history Of journalism than
that the London Times, instead Of be-
Ing, as Mr.. Wheeler represented, an
organ Of good in the world, has been a
barrier In the way Of progress. The
tide Of humanity has flowed past its
doors ever since Its foundation, and
1t would be difficult to name ON epoch
In the struggle OF right against might
In which the Times was not wrong I'M
til compelled by evidence in its till to
shift its editorial posture so as at least
to follow the movement Of an age 1t
never had the genius or the sympathy
to lead.
There is one instance worth recalling,
an instance Of immense importance to
the American people, when the Times
shifted its editorial position, and, II
not for a bribe, what shall we call the
consideration by which it was moved?
Whom the struggle began between the
slavery and the anti-slavery powers
the London Times became the fore
most champion Of the cause Of the Fed
era1 Union against the ConfederateS
Day after day, week after week, month
after month, It declared anathema up
ON Shareholders. England being re
sponsfble for the introduction Of the
system, It appeared to 1t even chival-
rous that England should help over
throw It AL this was during the Pc
Rod when nobody doubted that the
North would be victorious In the field.
AS oon however, as It seemed TO be
probable that victory would be with
the South, q belief founded ON the IN
truthful reports sen over by Its
correspondent, Bull Run" Russell, and
upon the contracts given to Clyde ship
builders for blockade u and com.
merce destroyers, and the manipulation
Of Confederate bonds in British money
centers, the Times abandoned Its con-
demnation of slavery and declared that
international trade interests e par.
amount to any domestic institution in
the United States. Interruption Of the
supply Of raw cotton TO British fac
tories and the corresponding loss OF in
come to British banks as wen as to the
Times itself, combined with the two pre-
vious influences In altering the edito-
rial position Of that Journal on the
American civil war.
In another part OF his discourse Mr..
Wheeler said that Napoleon went ION
his path OF crime" because "he could
not be overtaken by slow travelling in
~teI1igence." To-day the nations Of the
earth would lay their hands on such q
monster In an hour and Danish him to
an exile further, o a solitude deeper,
than the black rocks of St Helena"
To-day a monster fouler, o destruc-
tive of everything that civilization val
ues, Is maintained by England, al
though there Is cable connection from
Constanttnople to every European cap
ftal. For one hundred years the Otto
man Empire has existed only because
of the protection Of Great Britain, and
the organ Of that protection, through
thick and thin, has been and is the
Times Of London. Mr.. Wheeler's In
tenttons are, no doubt excellent, but
before he expatiates again on Journal
Ism he ought to study It's history q lit
tie more accurately.