Gilpin observer., 1900-03-15
MR.. sHELDoN's IDEAS.
Tells What He Thinks Newspaper Should
He.

| Topeka. March 13.-The first issue of
Rev. Mr. Sheldon's paper was gotten
out on time this morning. Over 1OO,-
600 copies were printed and mailed
| here, and the rest of the issue Is being
run OH presses at Chicago and New
York.
The paper, while n disappointment
| in the way of Il supplier of telegraph
matter, is commended by the religious
| element The leading editorial is in
part as follows:
The Topeka Capital this week.
Last December the owners of the
Topeka Daily Capital asked me to as
sumo entire charge Of the paper for
one week and edit it as IL distinctly
Christian daily.
| Il accepted the invitation on cond-
ton that l receive no financial com
pensation and that Il share of the prof
its be used for some benevolent work.
and named the week beginning Tues
day. March IL. 1900, as the week for
the experiment.
IF 1000 different Christian men who
wished to edit Christian dailies should
make an honest attempt to do so, the
| result might be 1000 different papers
| in very many particulars. In other
words. the Christian editors might ar
rive nj different conclusions in the i'll
depreciation of what is Christian. 1t
is of course the furthest from my pur-
pose TO attempt to show in II dogmatic
way what is the one thing that Jesus
would do in every case. The only
thing | or any other Christian man
can do in the Interpretation of what is
Christian in the conduct of this paper.
is to define the term Christian the
best that can be done after asking for
Divine wisdom. and NOT judge others
who might with equal desire and sin
cerity interpret the probable action of
Jesus in Il different manner.
with this understanding of the con
duct of the paper this week. / will
state in part its general purpose and
politics;
at will be IL newspaper. The word
news will be defined as anything in
the way of daily events that the pub
lie ought TO know for its development
and power in a life of Righteousness.
OF necessity the editor of this paper,
or of every other paper with this
definition of news will determine not
only the kind. hut the quality of any
particular event which ought to be
printed.
The Importance of one kind of news
compared with another kind will also
determine the place in the paper in
which matter will be printed. If it
seems to the editor that certain sub
iects representing great causes that be-
long TO the profoundest principle of
human life are the most important
they will be given the first page of the
paper, whether they are telcgruphic
Ut
the settled policy of prominent paper
similar 10 this one TO consider the de
tailed account of an unusual battle as
of less importance to the reader than
an account of the usual daily destruc-
tion being caused by liquor. The first
page of the Capital this week will con-
tain what seems to the editor to be
the most essential issues that affect
humanity aS whole.
The politics of the paper will he
nOn-partisan. not only in municipal
and state. but also in national politics
| do not mean to say that II Christian
daily cannot be partisan. This is SIM
ply my Interpretation of Christian rs
applied 10 this part of the papers life.
''On the liquor question the paper
will advocate the prohibition of the
whole liquor business from Maine 10
California and all around the globe.
The great social questions of the
age will he given prominence. The
selfishness of mankind in every form
Of greed. commercially or politically.
will he considered as of more serious
consequences TO us aS II people than
many other matters which too often
engage the time aud attention of man
kind
The paper will declare its abhor-
renee of war as ii is being waged to-
day. not only in Africa. buf in the Phil
ippineS and everywhere else.
'On matters of finance or tariff or
'cNpansion.' matters of much public
concern which have To do with meas
uIcS of this character. the editor has
personal opinions which may or may
not he voiced in This paper. If he gives
expression To them it will bc in no
dogmatic or positive manner; as If he
knew what the whole Christian truth
was concerning them. In regard to
many of these questions | do nor know
what is the Christian answer to them
In regard to the others my study of
their prayers for this weeks work. by
deep acknowledgment of The source of
whatever strength may have felt in
preparing for The task which lies he
yOnd the reach of any merely human
effort.
May God bless the use of ilis paper
TO the glory Of his kingdom on earth.
"CllARLES NJ. SHELDON"
MORAL WAVE IN NEW YORK,