The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-01
THE SECULAR PRESS,

Our neiehbor, the Richmond Ilmes,
takes us 10 task in very cour ,eou9
for our brief paragraph in a recent issue
in which we quoted the utterances Oh wv
ministers on the reprehensible character
~ much that IS served up In our ualiy
papers. We are ready 20 admit tranhS
that tho quotations In the parastaph
which, however, we dld not auopt
we're too broad: that there are many ana
,,onorabIe executions to a most deplorable
and general rule. In the note as orlBl-
naIlv written we went so far In this Ill
rection "a TO name the Richmond Times
among those noble and notable excep-
tions. hut the paragraph was, later on
condensed. and the remark was omitted
Now that the matter Is up, W venture
little -arther and say distinctly that we
are proud Of the Richmond and the VIZ
ginia press. We think this paragraph
from the Times editorial eminently true
"It Il rarely that we see in Virginia
newspaper. except the occasion absolutely
demand II. any publication that may not
he read about the fireside without bring
ing q blush 10 the most modest cheek.
II is necessary. we Sc, In the interest
Of public morals, som, ines to tell ugly
things in the newspapers. But we SUD
nit that such stories are told in the Vir-
einia newspapers with all possible deli
cacy and with all due respect to de-
cency."
All honor to the editors for reslsting
well the pressure in favor Of morbid sem
sationalism!
One feature Of our Richmond dailies we
have always noted with warm approval,
and that IS their very careful regard Tor
personal rights and privileges. In no city
in the world are personal matters treat
Il NIT or confederation.
We think this is even true in their treat
ment Of political oppJnents-a subtle test,
by the way. The Dispatch. the Oldest OF
our local papers, has always set an ad-
mirable example IN this respect. and The
Times and Leader have pursued the same
commendable course.
The fact is that in our part OF the para
graph Ga single sentence) we were think
ing of some of the great metropolitan pa
pers, which decent people are careful to
exclude from their homes, and with which
even conservative Richmond is deluged.
Their Sunday editions, with their crude
and monstrous pictures. with their indie
cent stories. with the reeking Nth oozing
from almost every column, are menace
TO righteousness and purity. DR.. Brights
remark. which was quoted, to the effect
that there was no clean New York daily,
Der OF New York secular papers which
could be safely circulated among young
and impossible people is not very large.
While we entertain this high opinion OF
our Richmond and our Virginia secular
press. we earnestly believe that there are
opportunities for improvement In various
directions. We should be glad 10 see the
papers that publish tho Sunday edition
abandon II. one of the tinest-and, by
the way, one Of the cleanest-newspapers
in the world is the Baltimore Sun, the
chief daily in a great city of 10000 In
habitants. and IL has never published
Sunday numberl If the evil or the sun
day paper continues we should be glad
TO see more care exercised in'the selection
Of matter for that particular issue.
However. we are on no crusade against
the secular press. We understand the
difficulties under which they labor ana
we fnd very much In our own editorial
brethren near home, with whose work we
are familiar, 90 commend. We trust that
they will continue 20 maintain the hish
standard which now prevails among
then. We must have the candor 10 say
that there Is Just as much room for COM
plant OF many religious journals as OF
secular. A distinguished minister, one OF
the most genial and lovable OF men, said
publicly. a few weeks ago. that a great
many religious journals came TO him, and
that he separated them into two heaps.
'aThese may go into my home They viii
bless and brighten and sweeten and ele-
yate. Those / cannot afford 10 take home;
they are so bitter. so abusive so malig-
nanu" We arc glad the Times thinks
well of the Herald. as it is kind enough
10 declare We shall endeavor 10 continue
TO deserve its good opinion. IL Is almost
worth while TO make a mistake II cor
rectlon is 10 be administered in so pleas
ant a ein--Religinus Herald.