The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
THE PROTEST OF DECENCY.
NEW JOURNALISM DENOUNCED M
MANY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS.


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Emphatic support OF tho Crusade OF Decent
Pablo Sentiment Against the 'Bats ana
Va~mpirea,-Pope Leo'a Letter Cited a. n
Remedy by Pre- dent Gar ION ofst. 'ohn'''
The protest Of decency against tho vileness and
indecencies of tho jaundicod new Journalism
grows apucc. The action of the clubs and the
various public libraries In excluding the papers
Of this stripe from their reading rooms is being
followed everywhere by the public commenda-
ton of the decent people Of all grades and con-
ditions OF life. Tho public sentiment and tho
public protest against the jaundiced Journalism
10 finding emphatic expression everywhere.
Bats, vampires. and scavengers are some OF the
words applied by men Of conservatism who do
not speak in haste, but only after elaboration.
During the last week the Commercial Adrer-
tiser asked the opinion Of a large number OF uni
vcrsity and college Presidents Of tho country on
the evil influences Of the jaundiced Journalism
and the best means OF controverting 1t in the In
terest Of decency. The paper printed letters
from q large number of the men yesterday.
Without q single exception they voiced the pub
lie sentiment that the day for the suppression OF
the evil had arrived.
The list was headed with a letter from ]. G.
schurmsn. the President Of Cornell University.
Mr.. Schurman said:
Newspapers are to-day among our most potent
elevate or weaken and debase the intellectual
And and moral tastes and n powers p|,S ,s Of the nsps soP seiumns'
they do not report. actual facts. but serve up
i do nSt 'e dissinsaish ''G safiis;ie ssfSAa' Between Sees
events en- which are important ,6 and tS sEsnits
sensationaiism, i%ubrieitS and the gutter. Cure
helpful press. But how I answer: Let editors
and managers take higher views OF their voca-
either as subscribers or as advertisers, our cor.
rupt and corrupting journals. and SO kill them
by starvation.
Andrew V. Raymond. tho President Of Union
College at Schenectady, wrote with other things:
II some. journalists are beyond the reach Of
moral influence, journalism itself always yields
sooner or later TO the financial argument. Such
popular agitation AS will lead TO the withdrawal
OF patronage, especially from the advertising col.
umns, seems 20 me to be the surest way to deal
with the present question.
J. NJ. Taylor, the President OF vassar. wrote:
1t Is impossible to condemn too strongly the
new journalism. 1t debases the public under
Unless law restraints them there is danger that
parties abused will take the law into their own
hands.
More emphatic still is the denunciation of tho
:aundiccd journalism by J. H. Garfield, Presi.
cent OF the Ohio State University. He said:
With its carc,cssness in investigation and its
ssnstiiona!:sin in methods OF stating alleged re-
slllS, WIN 'S lTlSuIlui ulsreHATu u Ill Inht ID
lue to the privacy Of the household, and It's de-
termination 10 feed to the morbidly inquisitive
T rS?aioa " %A' hissor true and Or f sase that ho b sEs mo
upon, public life or public morals, with its
hcartless cartoons. and its reckless .extrava-
Journalism" lacks courtesy. consideration.
thoIgh,fulness, .ruthfulness,, generosity, sim
eisanlin asno Of thought Si RRttfRR esith fiSaaaes Of II ilt ss'i and
all other characteristics OF modern civilization.
unless backed by a robust and Indignant public
sentiment When such sentiment comes legis-
ness the bats and vampires that disgrace that
portion Of the press now given over 10 such
7. ]. Cannon, 8. J., President of st. Johns
College OF Eordham, said:
Obedience to the recent letter of Leo XIII, on
the reading OF bad books, is the only remedy I
know Of for this particular form Of a Widespread
country.
The point of view of B. L. Whitman. President
OF Columbian University of Washington. Is not
hopeful. He said:
Nothing will cure the new journalism but
the grace of God, and nothing else 10 likely to
curb 1t but a public taste that will make scaven-
gering Improbable.
A. +. Fetterolf. President of Girard College
said:
The new journalism is poisoning the minds
OF the young uf both sexes, and the time has
come when the public must take a stand.
Juliu J. Irvine. the President OF Wellesley
College. advised that the action of the Newark
Public Library and the Century Club be followed.
Brother FHbrician, the President of st. Johns
College In Washington, said:
The opposition to new journalism" comes
from the conservative element of society. 1t
Is tho cry Of an outraged public conscience
%nIi;iiast an institution, which openly. and
the mental force Of IL large class of readers,
and exploits the Whispered and far;;reashins
inrough our educational system.
NJ remedy can be applied either by legislation
or the spasInOdic efforts OF an honest and honor
able press. It would be necessary to create
ngnins, new journalism " an opposition as deep
r Thi = is sh iSp DepFfEed !efSSd d% ;Sy,, Of hHma" Is ns ane q
those ephemeral evils which will eventually
destroy itself by its very excesses.
Matthew H.. Buckham, President of the Uni.
versity Of Vermont, wrote:
Rally the moral sense of the community 30
that both advertisers and purchasers will estab-
iish such q moral and financial boycott against
Il that all decent people will loathe Il, and Il viii
have 10 stink away Into the haunts OF vice along
Win lis comrades OF the low and immoral press.
This, in effect. was the opinion of w. P. Durfee,
Dean of Hobart College at Geneva, n. Y.
F. w. Boatwright, President of Richmond Col
lege. said:
The evils Of the new journalism have not
been exaggerated. They are as pervasiye as
they arc corrupting.
Edward u. Eaton, President of Be.oit College.
wrote:
reverence and Self-control arc pillars OF tho
republic. Newspapers should be great educators
OF public taste and morals. Tho new journal.
Ism" imperils all these interests and menacus
personal and national welfare.
So, also. wrote the Secretary Of the faculty of
Colgate University. He said:
The license of the so-calied new journalism
Is deplorabie, and d menace to the morality Of
the community.
+. NJ. Cravath. President of Fisk University,
said:
License OF journalism that disintegrates and
lntpGri!s the foundation of permanent and
wholesome social development must be resisted
ana ,Lrhed by an aroused public sentiment,
which will make II both dishonorable and hnan.
cinlly 'nprottable, and by. the enactment OF
wise and stringent laws and their rigid and i'm.
partial enforcement.
j. ID. Monat, President of Washington nd
Jefferson College, thinks the sending of a few
editors to the pcnitentiary would DO a good
thing. He says:
III new Journalism means freedom to reveal
NE SINS and foliies which are done In secret and
Ihll To AEH