Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-27
ne encouraging and Discouraainq Aspects
OF the lna uence Of the Public Press.

"7 VI" uence OF the Public Press.
proper consideration of the encour-
a ais ana discouraging aspects of the in
,,uahce OF the public press must. neces-
~, .dhe Il wider scope than the mere
obstacles encountered, or miseivinrs en-.
teItalned by any individual newspaper
Moihef. he influence of the public press
IS something vastly stronger and vastly
1i' imam the combined personal in
Iuence of all its workers. In the nresent
development of journalism efitoriai
work Is, for the most part of an imper-
soHal character. Good newspapers have
lhulvldualities of their own They have
esiaDhshed characters, and well defined
poilcleS, and there is always resting uDon
them the obligations of honesty and CON
slstency-without which no newsnaner
can either gain or retain any permanent
nold upon the good opinion OF the public.
a sood newspaper is neither the product
OF one mans thought nor the reflection
OF one mans personality. 1t represents
results of the combined labors of MANY
different workers. in many different lines.
Such results are so handled as to con-
form to the established principles and
rules of the paper without regard ia
what may be the individual views of any
or all of the workers who secure them.
The paper thus constituted has a
sphere of influence which it is not easv
to measure. Much OF it is rather a
growth than a manifestation-and vet.
by common consent enormous influence
Is justly ascribed to the public press. es-
pecially in its ability to arouse and shape
and give expression to that mighty DOW
er in Democratic government known as
public opinion.
1t is the glory of American journalism
that ii has BEEN in a remarkable degree
superior to the influence of greed It's
workers have labored with due sense of
the responsibilities resting upon them
and if few of them have ever attained
great worldly possessions. it is also true
that few of them have brought discredit
upon their profession.
There are. it is true. some discourage
ing aspects to this great influence of the
public press. They found in the i'm
menSe calculations attained by Il certain
few journals, without convictions, which
stimulate and pander to morbid tastes
and prurient curiosity: in the extent to
which the Sunday papers have invaded
the Sanctity of the Sabbath: in the
prOnenesS of the public. to put the bur-
ment of public morals, and the proper
discharge of public trusts, upon the
newspapers, and then. in the hour of
need. leave them alone with the enemy.
Contrary to popular impression, every live
paper puts into type each day moe mat
ter than there is room for in its columns.
However important, therefore. a commu
nication may seem to the writer it must
remain for the editor to determine
whether or not it will be of more inter-
than the matter it would displace. The
greatest responsibility that rests upon an
editor is not SO much the decision of
what shall go into his paper, as what
shall be left out of it. 1t is impossible in |
the determination of such matters to
avoid occasional frictions, which, though |
in the line of duty, are not without en-
barrassng and discouraging features.
But there is a brighter side to the pic
ture The influence of the public press
has many encouraging aspects. They are
found in the readiness of the great news
papers of our country to show the cour-
age of their convictions and adhere firm
" to settled lines of policy. This TACT
was strikngly illustrated in the last ma |
tional campaign, when one of the great |
political parties lost the larger portion of
it's newspaper support through the adop- |
ton of political tenets radically different |
from those it had previously advocated |
1t would be difficult to estimate the ire
mendous influence eXerted by these jour-
nails on the outcome of the election there
is encouragement, too, IN the fact that
the great reforms that have been
achieved in methods of political admins
tration have been largely due to the
fearless and untiring efforts of influential
newspapers that money could not reach,
or power intimidate; there is encourage
ment also in the fact that the cause of
popular education, the maintenance of
law and social order. and the advance
ment of worthy charitable and philan-
thrODic works have always enjoyed the |
cordial support and assistance of the
public press.
=, In an age when pessimism loves to de-
cry the splendid achievements of our |
civilization the general tone of our pub
lie press is hopeful and cheerful. and
through it all breathes spirit of devo-
ton to the public veal There is, too, in
the spirit of American journalism stur-
DIV patriotism, that never permits the
people to quite lose sight of the higher
ideals of citizenship, or neglects oppor-
tunities to inculcate love of country.
But | am conscious that this subject is
TOO broad a one to be more than touched
upou in the time allotted me here. l can
only say by way of summing up that
thoroughly believe the encouraging as
meets of the great influence of the public
nress are much more numerous than the
discourag cling ones, and, among the causes
for thanksgiving to which the people or
our country may properly advert on this
solemn day, may well be included the
poWerful influence of fearless, patrlotlc
and untrammeled press.
"Reverence and lrreyerence Tor Law.
Hon. H. M. Heath spoke on Reverence
and Irreyerence for Law" His remarks
were entirely extempOre and we regret
that we are only able to give an lmper-
feet abstract of them. He SAID tnat the
development of the law, historically con-
sidered furnished all the evidence ina