The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-13
TWO SORTS OF sENsATIONALIsM

The publishers OF the Topeka. Kansas,
Daily Capital recently turned over the
plant of that paper to a minister of the
gospel, the Rev. Sheldon. to try the eX-
pertinent of running it las Jesus would
do. The experiment was not IL sue
cess except i'll so far as it served to
advertise the Daily Capital 1t was,
doubtless, hardly to be expected that
what has been very well termed ''an
experiment in blaSphemy'' would sue
coed. but it has served to call attention
to several matters that are worth pub
lie consideration.
Writing of this venture. Mr.. T.. l..
Godkin. recently editor of the New York
Evening Post and one of the countrys
ablest editorial writers. says:
More nonsense has been written OH
the subject of what Jesus would do I'M
der this condition and what He would
do under that than on any other sub
iect that now occurs 10 me. Men VINO
have absolutely no right to arrOgate to
themselves 1t judgment on this topic
calmly sit down and do this and that
and the other as He would have done
it,"
Who does not recognize that Mr.. God
kins assertion is well within the bounds
of fact! \ good deal of attention has
been paid of late by professional reform
ers and others to pointing out the evil
wrought by the sensational press. In
this the ministry has been by 10 means
backward. The offences of the sensa-
tional press against good taste ana even
against good morals are often fragrant
enough, and harmful enough The Of
fences of the sensational preacher are
equally fragrant and even more hlIrtful.
often bringing what should be consid
cred sacred into contempt. The pulpiteer
who starts out to tell us what Jesus
would do under Il given set of circum-
stances is only one of this class of Of
tenders. There are others, hundreds of
them: in 50 much that it is now in some
sections of the country, considl
cred Il matter worthy of comment when
Il minister breaches IAN old fashioned
gospel sermon
When the newspaper. that the public
has kindly starts out to reform without
first reforming itself, is accused Of sen
sationalism its reply is that it prints
what the public wants to read. The
preacher who is charged with being sen
sational replies that he is "handling sin
with gloves off The plain truth is that
newspaper docs-landering to Il pubic
by giving that public what it wants.
There is undoubtedly room for reform
OF Il certain section of the preSS--but it
will not lie brought about by turning
sensational newspapers over to sensa
tional preachers to be edited by them.
The last state OF such Il newspaper is
worse than its first.
Reform the press. by all means; also
reform the pulpit. Sensationalism or
both sorts thriyes in The same localities
and appeals largely to the same clientele
The world has been puzzled ana
amazed at the result Of General Buffers
campaign in South Africa He began
hy the loss of his artillery. rushed with
cut a reconnaissance into ii position from
which it could not be rescued. He has
marched and conference.-the. has
crossed and recrossed the Tngela. mas
taken ut great cost positions one day
only to abandon them the next. until
the general public has given up all hope
of getting any grasp of the situation
from the meagre cables that pass the
censor. The London correspondent OF
the New York Times, throws some lignt
on the puzzle An officer in the fight III
Colenso in letter that has found its
way into the London papers, according
10 the correspondent. accuses Butler OF
every crime an officer can be guilty of.
The correspondent continues:
Orders were issued in the moss
slnYenly manner. without bein" commit
led to paper: troops were flung about
rromiscuously. ignorant Of the position of
the enemy they We're sent to attack:
ambuHnces were posted Ill front of our
big naval guns. and close under them
50 as 10 be in the direct line of the enc
my'S fire. No reconnaissance was made
artillery was dumped around withour
purpose or definite plan. Ii is little
short of nlurder, the officer wound zip,
TO il1Sr1lst the lives of the troops 10
the hands of such leaders.