The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-03-16

what Jesus would do we're lie the pub
Usher. IL is a bold experiment phase
Of which have been tried many timei
before, and one which strikes US on tbs
whole as rather hopeless mixture oi
the practical and the visionary.
Mr.. sheldon's theoretical code OF
newspaper management contains the
following initial points:
q, NO writing or pictures that
could be called impure or coarse This
is q safe measure and one which IL
embodied in the rules OF every reputa-
BILE journal.
(2) Conducting the political part Of
the paper from a standpoint of non
partisan patriotism and in the light OF
its relation TO the Kingdom of God"
Some journals try to do this now but
their ideas of what are patriotism and
partisanship and what best advances
lne Kingdom of God widely differ, and
differences make craftsmanship. Editors
are also subject to human weaknesses
and failings. We presume it would be
impossible to make one common plat
form upon which all Christians could
stand. One Christian might think free
trade conducive to the glory of God, in
that it would give religion chance to
spread in the wider spheres of bust
ness; another that economic protec-
ton, being in line with the precept that
a man should look after his own or take
a position lower than the infidel, would
be better for the continuity of the
faith. One man might stand for arbi-
tration and the peacemakers; another
for the spirit expressed in the saying:
II come not to bring peace into the
world but sword" On all public ques-
tons Christians differ like other people
and where they differ conscientiously
craftsmanship is inevitable. 1t cannot
be avoided any more than can competi-
tion in business or differences of opin-
ion in lawsuits.
49, Conduct newspaper not to
make money or gain political influence
but to preach the precepts of Jesus. "
This is highly idealized conception
which would hardly work out well in
religious, not TO speak of secular jour
nalism. Unless a newspaper can be
made to pay, it soon ceases publication
and the churches are yet to be found
that will make up the deficits of an I'M
successful business venture, however
pious it may be, and prolong its unre-
other pursuits, the laborer is worthy
of his hire, fact which Mr.. Sheldon
has himself revealed in raising the sub
scription price of the Capital. Nor is
the commercial spirit incompatible
with the Christian life, for are We not
adjured, while serving the Lord, to be
also diligent in business? So far as
political influence goes, it is not a
harmful prize nor need it interfere
with religious teaching in the editorial
columns. though regarding the latter
lar press should make it chief or only
object. That is the function of the re-
ligious press. No secular paper could
exemplfy the Sheldon idea and re-
main secular. Does the Topeka clergy
man propose to abolish secular journal
ism altogether? We think he can only
do that when he abolishes civil COM
munities and builds theocracy in
their stead. So long as towns and cit
les are what they are their press will
be substantially what it is.
(4) Refusing all questionable adj
vertisements" Right and proper! The
best journals do that now.
(5) Adopting the cooperative plan
of newspaper production" This has
been tried by the Philadelphia Ledger
and few other papers with varying
success; but it is not always practicable
in Offices where the rules of the Typo
graphical Union are enforced.
90 Large space to the news OF the
Christian world" There can be no
objection to this feature. In fact, the
press has given too little space to a
subject which, in the minds of a myriad
of home readers possesses the highest
importance, and it ought to maintain a
more equitable proportion.
CD "Persistently fight the sa-
looms" Would that have been Jesus
way?
(s) Issue no Sunday edition" Since
studying the practical side of journal
ism Mr.. Sheldon has abandoned this
rule and the Topeka Sunday Capital
viii appear as usual. Mr. Sheldon ar
CUES sounaly that Sunday paper of
the right type may powerfully aid the
pulpit and the Christian life. The old
Latin motto: "The abuse is no argu-
ment against the right use" Is appli-
cable to Sunday papers as TO other
things.
(9) print the news of the world