The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-15
NEWSPAPER POWER.


It win be interesting to note the re-
suit of newspaper influence in the cam
paign which is now fairly opening. No
such opportunity for testing the power
of the press has occurred In years. The
great organs of the Democratic party
are with a marked unanimity repud=
iatipg the Chicago convention, it's lead
ers, platforms and nominees. At least
this Is true OF the greater and More
prominent metropolitan daIlies Of that
party. It IS held. by many, that the
newspapers Of America are the Great
ols and leaders Of American thought.
This declaration is denied by politi-
clans and public men. but the news
papus hold that it is true. 1t IS as
serted that no man. however great, NO
party, however powerful, 10 leader or
salesman, can stand day against the
newspapers of his party. The Demo
cratic papers of New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Chicago. and of many
smaller cities, have already declared
that the Chicago platform nor nomi-
nees can stand as opponents Of Demo
cratic principles. In that convention
were many OF the recogi2ed leaders Of
the party, L. S seators, congressman,
judges, federal officials and men Of Ike
eminent stamp and character, In the
absence of a protest upon the part OF
the papers named the chances are that
nineteen out Of twenty Of the men who
participated In the work Of the con-
ventiOu would have acquieSced in the
result.
If the power OF the party press is
grearer than that of king or potentate,
than that OF Roman emperor or a
modern car, then the Chicago conven-
ton must go for naught or otherwise
the papers alluded to, in spite OF all
their seeming candOr and apparent
bravery, must retreat from the bold
and defiant stand taken by them and
permit the work OF the representative
delegates in the Chicago convention to
stand as the expressed viii and choice
Of the national Democratic party.
While such men as Hill, Whitney,
Cleveland, Carlisle, Golman. Gray,
Brice, Russell, Lamont, and all that
host OF single standard Democrats are
either dumb or with concilIabory words
are seeking 10 smooth 1t over and let
1t 60" the great organs referred to are |
''never.' Editors, of course, |
are but human, and the great Republi- |
can papers are kissing on their dis |
gruntled and protesting Democratic CO
temporaI1es. Yet the average editor |
writes In calmness and with reflection,
by the Excitement or en-
thusiasm which sways the convention, |
writes knowing that what he SAYS will |
cost his paper the loss of many sub
therefore writes in dead earn
est If the papers alluded to hold to
their course the Democratic party is
disrupted and paralyzed and defeated
beyond hope, or otherwise the success
If the platform and nominees of the
Chicago convention leaves the said
metropolitan journals stripped OF their
,oaSted power with the people. That
he delegates in that convention repre-
;ented the desires and convictions of
he great body Of Democrats of the
vest and Of the south, In their demand
or silver, there can be no question.
Vine out Of ten Democrats, of the sec
ions named, are for tht free, indepen-
lent and unlimited coinage of silver
6 TO 1. These newspapers say that
he demand is wrong THAT it must not
Ne, and that rather than it should be
hey will defeat the party by putting
mother in the field, and certainly in
he event of POpulfstic Endorsement
t st. Louis. So the issue is made.
t Is the newspapers of the Democratic
arty upon the one side and the politi-
ians upon the other, both claiming TO
epresent the real wishes of the ma
GRITTY of the men who constitute that
arty. The politicians cannot recall
he result OF their words and work at
lhicago. If the newspapers named
tand pat the test of power and CT in :
uence is inevitable.
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