The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-15
Yellow journalism. .


l. DR.. Robert s. Macarthur, one OF
the most accomplished and sue
cessful ministers of New York city, is
editing daily a page Of news and COM
ment. not "as Jesus would"-Dr. Nc
Arthur lays no absurd claim to special
knowledge of what our Lord would do
IL He were to return to earth-but as
he thinks. from the standpoint Of a
Christian minister, that a newspaper
might properly be edited. The differ
ence between this platform and that
enunciated by Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon
is to DIR. McArthur's credit.
Among the topics discussed by DIR.
Macarthur is this Topeka Capital en-
plot and his views impress us as being
| wise and timely. Men," he writes,
"have gravely asked Would Jesus
join a political club?' Would He be a
member of the Republican or Demo-
cratic party?' 1t is possible greatly to
| multiply questions of this character.
1t is easy also to border on the ridcu-
lous. the irreverent, even the BIAS
phemous, in asking and answering
questions of this character. The fact
material life differ so widely from those
of Christ's time and country that 1t is
impossible to say what He would do
If He were here today. Indeed, 1t was
impossible to anticipate what He would
do in Judea when He was on the earth.
He constantly did many things which
We're the very opposite Of those which
He was expected to do. He accepted
the invitation of a publican to dine at
his house. This act shocked the con-
servative religionists of that day. He
had words Of welcome, encouragement
women.to whom the respectable classes
of the time would not speak. He was
radical along many lines of social
custom and Of religious reform. To
undertake to say what He would dc
now, were He here in the midst Of the
stirring events Of our material life, is
to be guilty of presumption that is
simply irreverent. The most that can
be said is that man may suggest a
course Of procedure on His part. grow
ing out Of our knowledge Of His life
as revealed in Holy Scripture; but
when men Undertake to describe in de-
tail what His course would be along
all the lines of daily life, they are in,
truding into a sacred sphere, which is
equally presumptuous and irreverent
on their parts
Righteous complaint exists among
nomenon known as "yellow journal
ism." meaning thereby the journalism
which panders to abnormal or morbC
tastes by a reckless display of sensa.
tionalism. In details this kind of jour.
nalism differs, of course, very widely
from the kind which Rev. Mr. Shell
don is exemplifying; but is there, afte
all, large difference in principle? L
it not quite as abnormal and morbif
to cater by unusual means to the curl
osity Of the multitude as he is doin.
as it is to cater to pretty much tn,
same human instinct in the NOR
familiar but not more sensational
"yellow" style?
The reports tell us that while ther
is a large. in fact a most extraordinar,
demand for the Sheldon editions from
curious people living at distanc
from Topeka, the regular patrons o
the paper are dissatisfied and are buy
ing other papers which give the new
of the day in the ordinary way Thi
is significant as to the fate whicl
would probably overtake the Sheldol
style Of paper after the novelty of tn
idea should have worn off. That 81.
months or a year Of the Sheldon kin,
of journalism would land the Topek
Capital in the hands of the sheriff |
reasonable deduction. People do no
want to be preached at or treated t
assertive moralizing every day in tn
year.