The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-02
mr.. CALlSCH ON THE PRESS.
His Response TO Toast at a banquet
I'm Cincinnati.

Ill NtntiibhN'
ro,or.ng Il the substance Oh toos'
$500 rv Rabbi K. y. Calisch, OF this
-, 81 the banquet rendered by the C4u-
~ ~ cincinnati To the Cehtrai NOh'
s~rnnca nj American RaDDis recently he'u
Al chat city. The speech is taken lioin
Tns publication ia the American AS'"''
I, ia . far cry from Gutenberg to Hoe
and Mergenthaler. and from the Gays "a
"cood Queen Bess.' when the nIS'
r1sh Mercurie" was published TO enron
80 ,ba doings OF her gay court To the
n,odern metropolitan journal. during
ms time the newspaper has grown
,,Ieb,,lv II brings before us, Tor our
d.iIv mental breakfast, the world com
nressed within few pages. IL gamers
ia material from the four corners Oh 'he
earth. 1t IL at once gossip. miisre',
a philosopher. a counsellor, frlehd ahu
guide. IL emphasizes the contracting
nower of modern invention ana. ~ us
Contrasts of life, accentuates, not only
the smallness of this footstool OF bou5
lint also the diverse interests OF me hu-
man insects that crawl upon II. size by
side are presented accounts OF daslaIul'
murders and Of deeds of heroic seli-sacrl-
fee. of fearful crimes. done in passion
under impulse OF greed, revenge cupidiiy'
and OF godlike philanthropy and benevo-
Iencc, There are the doings of devils and
the acts of angels In close contact
The press covers the fields Of politics,
economics. art science, religion philo-
SONNY. athletics. commerce and industry.
IL makes and unmakes regulations. II
often decides the policies Of nations. l
believe there IS no greater power on
earth none so tremendous and complete.
as that exercised by the press Of the
United States. Compared 70 II kings en-
perors. popes. presidents ministers and
statesmen are as weaklings and puppets
And I will say further that ] do not be
lieve that there ever has been so great
and so tremendous a power welded with
such fairness, such equity, such justice
such conscientious devotion 20 the public
good. as Is this power Of the free Amer
team press.
II is true there are yellow journals"
and sensation-mongers there are even
venal sheets that prostitute their pages
60 the highest bidder but these are few,
they are the exceptions. they are dis
trusted even by their own readers. and
their influence is practically Nil, as com-
pared with that Of the great. incorrupu-
bic brotherhood that Yields the pen OF
American journalism.
However conflicting may be their
opinions on things political, or social or
economic. let there arise question OF |
great moment. one affecting the national |
honor. or OF vital concern 20 the safety |
OF the republic, and the great journals |
Of this country will be found as a unit |
on the side OF freedom. Of morality and |
Of Justice There could not have been |
possible here the bigotry. the venality |
the corruption. the moral horror Of a |
Dreyfus trial with its concomitant and |
consequent Vaccinations 10 defeat truth |
and enthrone injustice for thank God |
the press OF America Is not as the press |
OF France.
And IN touching upon this subject ] |
wish TO add that. while il is true that |
there IA no denser or eraser ignorance |
than that OF the average reporter on a |
daily newspaper on things Jewish. yet |
nowhere and at no time have the Jews |
ever been treated with the consldera- |
tlon. the Justice. the fairness and the |
dclicacy that have characterized the |
American press. as a whole In its treat |
ment OF the Jews and Of Judaism.
/ believe there Ia cause for this In ad- |
dition 10 the fact Of their inherent man |
Illness and love OF fair play. and that |
cause hes in the Jewish press Of this
country We DO not by any means ap- |
preciste the work that the Jewish press |
Il doing. They have educated the Jew.
and they have educated the Christian |
with regard 20 tho jew. what he is and |
what he believes and hopes. There has |
been none so quick 10 come 10 tho aid OF |
worthy cause. none so quick 10 rise In |
behalf OF the oppressed. as have been the |
Jewish papers OF this country. j know |
that here TOO there are some yellow |
journals" some papers that are anything |
but desirable representatives. 1t seems |
that the impression has become prevail |!
snt that all that Is needful to run a Jew |
ish newspaper IL pair OF shears. d pot |
OF paste. a font of type and an unblush- |
ing impotence In soliciting advertise
ments, No matter how monsrei and |
wrefched these papers are or 20 what |
vagaries ard idiocies they give birth. IN |
the eyer OF the world they are Jewish |
pswspspe rs, representative OF the Jews |
and their religion
!, But ever against chem We have the |