The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-25
THE CARTOON AS A MORAL WEAPON.

Tor the anti-cartOOn law which has gone
into effect the press OF the State almost uni
versally holds The Call responsible. A car
toon, johnson, the penman, published in this paper
during the session OF the Legislature is said to have
been the spur which made the CALLED Jade OF official
corruption vince and buck to the extent OF enacting
the law.
II this be true, The Call has no regrets for its
course; no apologies TO offer On the contrary, it
cites that very fact convincing evidence OF the
usefulness OF the the press and to the pub
lie, proof OF its effectiveness as a moral weapon,
demonstration OF its potency to so hold the mirror
up to rascaity and folly that the guilty offender
bushes at his depravity and "weeps to find it fame"
For years the ablest writers and the abest
Of California have employed every weapon OF argu-
men reason, satire and invectve to pierce the thick
hide OF Johnsons self-concet and shameless audac-
y, expose his clearly that not only
would it be plain to all the world, but that even he,
blind he is in his besoted egotism might see him
self others see him and realize his moral degrade
ton.
All these efforts of tongue and pen were vain 1t
was in vain the eloquent Edgerton, that master OF
an oratory whose nvective burned and famed like
fire, assaied the impudence OF Johnson; it was in
vain McClatchy OF the Bee, one OF the most virie
and yitriolic writer's who ever essayed to drive cor
exposed his record. In vain many another orator
and many another writer tried each in turn to make
him feel in his heart the sting OF public scorn All
words OF tongue and pen were vain; they were futile;
they had no effect
Then The Call published its cartoon. Grove John
pictured vsiby so that the eye could see
him as he is. With that pictured page before them
the people saw what his record is and what he is
He himself himself and knew at last how the
people see him, and the hide OF his egotism was
pierced, his very mpudence was shamed into re-
morse he broke down and wept
An intelligent public can demand no stronger or
more convincing proof of the effectiveness of the
cartoon a moral weapon The pencil Of the skilled
artist succeeds where all words fail 1t carries con-
viction not only to the public, but to the mind of
rascality itself 1t is the most potent means which
virtue has to expose vice folly fraud and hypocrisy
and make their hideousness clear that even those
who practice them shrink from them in dismay
A free press charged with the duty of exposing
evil and driving from high places all who practice
it cannot surrender this effective weapon at the com
mand OF malicious rascaty. The anti-cartoon law
enacted in moment of fright and malice is uncon-
stitutional. 1t is violation OF the fundamental
rights of the press. The Call will continue in the
future in the past to cartoon vicious men, fools in
high Office booders criminals, betrayers of public
trust corrupt legislators and in short all kinds and
sorts OF rascals who by trickery and knavery have
attained power or position in the State 1t has
proven the potent sharpness Of the cartoon as
moral weapon and will not lay it down so long as
there is battle to be fought for virtue and honesty
in California.