The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-27
What Mr.. Hay Thinks.

would hardly be consistent with rs
mission"
What Mr.. Hay Thinks.
The Rev. Mr. Hay said: What do
think of Mr.. Sheidon's experiment?
In view OF the vast and almost incom-
prehensible influence OF newspapers
upon earth's inhabitants for veal or
for woe, who can withhold admiration
and gratitude from any man or woman
who makes an honest effort TO purify
and enn0ble that influence? All nonor
to such, whoever they may be. for they
are true friends OF their race. All hon
or, therefore, 10 Mr.. Sheldon for his
brave undertaking.
Until a file of the Topeka Capital
shall have been placed in my hands |
can form opinions only of the applica-
bility Of the principle laid down. One
might accept the principle and differ
in some respects from Mr.. Sheldon as
to It's demands. He himself doubtless
occupies the attitude of an experiment
Ter. Mr. Sheldon asserts that editors
ana publishers Of newspapers could
and should be Christians in the highest
sense. They could and should faithful
ly represent Jesus the Christ in the
DdEEES.
The columns Of their issues should. con-
tain such things as Jesus would ap-
prove and shut out such things as He
would not approve. Taking the New
Testament ideal that every Christian
is coparther with Jesus, what would
be the character OF a newspaper upon
whose front page could be read: Pub
lished by the Lord Jesus Christ aD A
Brothers?
Mr.. Sheldon's idea antagOnizes the
notion that the newspaper is a 5.ump-
ing ground FOR everything gog,1 aSd
bad; that men may advertise in its
columns provided they car NAV the
regular rates. He would rescue rrIh-
fishers from the infamy II prostitutine
their journals to the bas est OF purnoses
Mr.. Sheldon magnife,s the office Of the
editor and manager OF a newspaper. He
makes the editor a minister of right
eousness, an erAbassador for God. a
counselor Tor che people, a guide and
defender; a powerful friend OF the yir-
tuous and law-abiding and a dreaded
Zoe OF tnrs vicious and criminal classes.
10y thuS exalting the conception OF the
junction of the editor he sweeps away
every species Of sOphistry by which an
eoitOr is robbed of his manhood and
degraded to become a puppet and tool
iof individuals who will pay for his ser
vices, or corporations who would use
him for iniquitOus ends, or political
parties whose measures and candidates
! be must support at all hazards.
In Mr.. SheldOn's idea Of the news
paper the word news is defined as
lanything in The way of current events
that the public ought to know for its
moral and spiritual development. Who
can object to such a standard? surely
all good citizens, parents. educators.
governments, patriots, philanthrOpists,
must heartily approve. The only
news excluded would be hurtful news.
| For the records of such, crimes. vices
and tilthiness of society as would not
be sanitary in their influence, the his
| tOrian and scientific student could have
access to court records and the works
Of specialists. The physician must
study the many forms OF morbid anat-
Omy; but it is not necessary or expe-
dent that every layman should do the
same.
Journalists as a class do recognize
the obligation of this principle affirmed
/ by Mr.. Sheldon. Within certain bounds
set by themselves they select ana re-
lect. Moreover, the manner of report
; ing and discussing events often deter
mines whether good or evil resu'.- 10
community. II is at this poi -
truly as at any other, that the 81
like truthfuluess, impartiality, 5as ice.
mercy and fearlessness are TeqUired. The
most sacred things may be preseI
in way disastrous TO the moral Sc
and vice may be made attragttystF Tee
pellant.
ITO your second question, Il .-r -a----
cable TO conduct a newspaper iu Homo
lulu on the principle adopted ly L-
sheldon % / answer without hesitation.
| Nns. and I'll honor % Tie aL---r- .--