The record-union., 1897-07-07

have added at the time, that society as
a body is deeply interested in the bring
ing on of the generations in such form
as win give the most peaceful, strong,
intelligent and moral results to the
State. Hence it is that not only guar
responsibility, but all society is inter-
ested profoundly in the wall over yellow
journalism.
We do not assume that what the
Record Union" had to say in response
to our intelligent contemporaries ques-
tions served to change its view of the
foatter 1t expressed in connection with
them no approval of nude journalism,
but respondent spirit, a sense of help
fulness and submission to what it
plainly looked upon as inevitable.
But it certainly is true that our Stock
ton neighbor has changed it's views. In
an extended and able editorial, with the
shameless and nude Bradbury Ward
case as a text, it now deplores the fact
that the yellow kid newspapers should
seize upon the incident, magnify its
Importance in columns of space. filled
With every imaginable detail except the
salacity which the law forbids-this it
seems to US is an evil thing"
1t is added that the business of a
newspaper is to give the news. The
esopement referred to was legitimate
news. But we do not believe the sur
mise of gossip all the details of low sug-
gestion are fit to be printed in papers
which must be taken into the home. "
Further along in this consideration the
Mali says regarding the office of the
newspaper:
We are not alone in deploring this
degradation Of the functions of great
and powerful journals. all of which do
much good and all of which, alas, do
much evil.
1t is perfectly true that there is a
vide demand for this kind of reading,
and that the demand grows more clam
orous. A few years ago the Police
Gazette" was sufficient to supply this
class of readers. To-day it is neither
enough in bulk nor in nastiness. The
demand has been created by the news
papers themselves. This is the sober
truth.
It is certain that the exploitation of
such nastiness as this Brad dbury mess is
a distinct menace to the purity of thou
sands of young girls. More than one
ruined and lost woman will yet look
back to curse the day her mind was so
poisoned.
The other day one man murdered an
other in cold blood down Fresno way.
AS the victim lay dying he said: We'll,
guess Len will be satisfied now He's
a big man now and will be in all the
papers. He always wanted to be a
big man." It seems to US that these
W words of a poor, ignorant wretch are,
in their pathetic meaning, a tremen-
dous Indictment of the methods of the
great newspapers.
Perhaps it is true that nothing must
stand in the way of pushing circulation.
Perhaps the souls of women and the
lives of men are of no value compared
to a catch of fresh subscribers. We
do not undertake to decide for others.
But as for us, knowing nothing of the
future and fearing it as little, we
should yet be afraid to go through the
strait and dreadful pass of death with
such results of hfes work in hand.
All which is eloquently, soulfully said,
and commands our respect for the recess
sion of the Mali from the position it
apparently occupied.
The Record Union" has for some
years been saying the same thing to the
best of it's ability, because it believes
that the way to any reform is by insist
entity and unfalteringly driving for it,
fainting not by the way and never say
ing What is the use?" It is always of
use to protest against wrong. 1t always
avails to point out where the pitfalls
lie and to protest against their planting.
Though many stumble and go down,
pondent, that some day the traps will
be closed, and some human beings per-
haps not until they come on who step
upon the stage when those of this day
have passed away, will find the way
clear and fair, and the footing of their
paths not laid with irremovable snares.
1t is something wonderfully satisfying
to cry out shame" and withhold" for
those who have the right to look to us
for ward and guard against assaults
upon formative character; q nob1er and
protection to the dependent from ply
sical attack.
There are half dozen or more splendid
societies in California, organized under
law that invites them to employ its
voice and arm TO prevent cruelty to
children, to stand for the rights OF
and invasion These are praiseworthy
institutions; they receive public money
in aid; they are approved of all good
men and women; they are fostered by
our Legislatures; they have specially
emphatic sanction for standing in ou1
courts, but they have neither authority
nor power to protect children from that
which our esteemed contemporary SC
eloouently descants. More the pity. But
because this is unhappily true, and be-
cause of what our contemporary has SC
well said upon the subject, we repeat
that it is "of use" to "wail'-if that
word pIeases it most-over yellow
Journalism" We are gratified that the
....oir., hoe ioipa6 in the PROTESTING re-