The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-17
CHARLES EMORY SMITH on NEWS
PAPERS.

L f0f0llVl1
dress before the Independent Club OF Buff
| falo on the evening OF December 18th by
Charles Emory Smith. editor OF the Phil
adoiphia Press. on Newspapers and Poll
tics"
Mr.. Smiths address was highly enter
tanning TO newspaper men as showing
the wonderful progress that has been
made in Journalism within the past fifty
years and as showing also the superiori-
ty OF American newspapers over those Of
Europe.
But that part Of the address which Is
Of most interest TO us Is the reference TO
the relationship Of the press to political
parties. Mr.. Smith says that tho press
Is more Independent than ever before be-
cause newspapers draw their patronage
from the public rather than from political
organizations. The press no longer, he
tells us. feeds on crumbs that fall from
tho official table. 1t is not now swayed
by Official patronage. which is at best
but an insignificant portion of its revenue.
The inherent power which IL derives from
popular support has emancipated journal
ism from the thralldom of personal SER
Witty and given Il character and influence
integrity and independence. In short MT.
Smith simply emphasizes the well known
fact that the day Of the party organ IS
done and that in IT'S place has sprung up
the independent newspaper whose great
mission Is 20 print the news, and 10 PRINT
both sides of the news fairly and truth
fully.
The newspaper that will do THIS need
not trouble itself so much about its odito-
rial columns. If the people can only get
the facts. they will do their own editing
and it matters very little TO them what
comment the editor may make.
Before leaving this phase Of the subject
however, Mr.. Smith very properly saves
the point that Independent journalism
does not mean Indifferent journalism. and
that II is not at all incompatible with in
dependent journalism that it ally itself
with that political party which most truly
represents its principles and that 1t fight
for the success Of that party and its
maintenance in power.
On the other hand, however, he also
emphasizes the fact that party Journalism
in its highest state and in its true ana
worthiest independence is teaching the
lesson that 1t cannot be depended upon to
uphold and defend party wrongs and
abuses In illustration of this, he cites
the fact that in 1928 when the President
called Congress together in extra session
TO rescue the country from the false pol
icy Of the continued purchase OF depre-
ciated silver which imperilled the pubic
credit, Republican papers forgot their
partisanship and stood shoulder to
shoulder with Democratic papers in the
support of a policy recommended by
Democratic President.
Again in 1896 when the country was
threatened with free silver and the doc
trines of Populsm, many Democratic
papers refused absolutely TO support the
party with which they had been afiiliat-
ing in that course.
In short he holds that manly independ-
ence is entirely compatible with sincere
devotion to the principles and policy Of a
particular party and with full faith that
its dominance best conduces to the pub
lie welfare. but that this partyism is
practicable, not slavish; this ,ndepend-
ence Is not blind 10 the bad on its own
side nor to the good on the other.
These are the sentiments Of Republi-
can. and they are sound and they are
admirable. We believe in party organiza-
lions. We believe in an honest and brave
partsanry. But we believe that it Is the
duty and that 1t is the high privilege of
every newspaper to be the manly ally OF
the party with which it afiiliates rather
than its slave. Every newspaper must be
the guardian Of It's own conscience and
of its own principles. Every such news
paper will stand Loyalty by its party and
give 10 its party its cordial support in
what it believes to he right, but 1t will
not hesitate to point out the faults OF its
own party, as it secs them. nor will IT,
for the sake Of regularity. follow blindly
the lead of its party in any course which
it believes to be a violation Of its own
principles.