The record-union., 1898-02-07
LATE BUT JUST PROTEST.

general protest is going UP along
the whole line of the interior press
against the yellow journalism method
in publishing news of the Clark murder
case of Napa County. A great body of
our exchanges point out that there was
no necessity whatever for printing the
nauseating and filthy details of the
causes leading up to the murder A
mere line would have indicated all that
was necessary and have sufficiently ad-
vised the imagination of readers. It
was distinct and gratuitous insult to the
sense OF decency among the people, to
have so-called opponents of public opin-
ion wallow through columns of stuff,
which if printed in the form of ro-
nance would have debarred the papers
carrying it from the use of the United
States mails and have rendered the
publishers liable for criminal prosecu-
ton under the laws Of the State.
We are glad to hear the protest of
have often said, that SO much as is
good, clean and decent in journalism in
California resides mainly with the in
terror press. At the same time we beg
leave to call the attention of our es-
teemed interior contemporaries to the
fact that the Clark case of which they
complain was not one whit worse nor
indeed so bad as a hundred others ap-
S.f
which but very few interior newspapers
have even raised their protest.
Nor is the matter Of the Clark case
for which the gutter press became the
vehicle any more demoralizing to youth,
Or offensive to decency, or insulting to
civilization, than vast volume of mat
ter published in these same sensational
sheets east and west, under the thin
guise Of fiction. theatrical recital, social
scandals and flash titles generally.
The dangerous character Of the jour
nalism condemned is not in single Of
lenses such as the Clark filth, but in
the whole line of conduct of the pages
of these corrupting influences which
pose as great leading newspapers. 1t
cannot be, it will not remain, that this
offending will go on forever. In time,
and not long time, the effect of cram
ming the minds of the reading youth
of the land with yellow literature, will
become so viciously prominent that in
simple self defense society will be driv
en- to command a halt.
Youth of both sexes will grow up so
hardened. insensible, familiar with
crime. debauchery and amours through
the medium of information referred to-
that adult age will reflect a condition
that will be wholly incompatible with
an atmosphere Of social cleanliness,
trust, virtue and sensibility.
The American people might just as
we'll attempt to raise their children
among the cannibals, or in the midst of
savage and brutal tribes of Africa and
expect Of them refinement, virtue, good
taste, incorruptible character and clean
illness Of thought, such as American civ
ilization is supposed to foster
The fable that Bunyan gives us in
his famous allegory applies. Christian
observing a fire burning fiercely in
CRATE. though one stood by and cast on
water which appeared only to anger the
flames the more, asked the secret of the
strange effect Of the water casters eff
forts. Whereupon Greatheart took him
behind the wall, and showed him
the Devil pouring on oil from the rear
of the fire upon the flames in front