The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-05
THE IDEAL
NEWSPAPER
OUTLINED.
should Relate all Current Events
With Regard to Truth and
Elevated Taste.
REV. SHELDON'S EXPERIMENT
Refsrred to IN Rev. c. N. oliphant's
Sermon on Duties of Modern
Journalism.

Thora Is general interest in the exper-
iniant soon to be made at Topeka, KaEt
BY Rev. c, M. sheldon, author Of I'm
ais steps, or What Would Jesus Dog
who for. a week viii edit the Topellf
canital in accordance with his ideas Of
q model newspaper. henre tie sermon
delivered yesterday morning at the
First Christian church by the pastor,
Rev. c. II. ollphant, was q timely oue.
Rev. Mr.. Ollphant said:
fLe prusress Of the centuries Is seen
IN ali the enlarged and improved actlv-
tiles OF the IaceS but In nothing - u
more consplcuously seen than In the
rsethods Of disseminating news. In
early times the herald went about with
his pack Of tidings from hamlet toham-
let. The herald and cOurier5 were tic
Mercuries then.
In the court Of Shushan Is gathered q
company Of footmen stripped to the
waist ard Itrt about the loins, ana
hoFsemen ready to move at the signal.
A loyal proclamation giving immunity
to the Jews, who had beer previously
doomed to death has been signed ana
sealed by King AhaBuerus and must be
carried with ali haste to the untmdst
border Of the realm. The lives Of the
nation depend upon the faithfulness Of
the messengers.
The herald was succeeded by the post,
20 called from ''positus," reference to
the fact that relays were placed at ir-
tervalB that the rfders might be expedite
ed on their way. Hence the nomenclature
OF our present postal system. The
messenger was q p0gtman. The station
was the pustofice. A similar plan WIS
In vogue in the early days Of our ma.
ton. Changes have taken place. THE
old order changeth." The herald and
post could not outllve our modern it-
Ventiohs. Out Of the logic and neceSsi-
~ OF events has come the newspaper
Its evolution from the post" Is lndlcat-
ed by such titles as 1.-THE Post" THE
Herald" ''The Courier" &c. Ths
Emperor Dionyslus could sit on his
throne and hear through bra8en pipes
the gossip Of his entire palace. In our
time every man can cit at an electric
focus and listen to the story OF events
transpiring at the uttermost parts Of
the earth. The newspaper Is a great
power for good or evil. It very largely
moulds the life OF the community. It
also voices the sentiments Of the people.
In a large measure It Is just what its
patrons make It The press has q
large responsibility. II It be true to
its great mission It Will not be content
20 reflect the sentiment Of the people,
but will create and make public opin-
ON. It can thus become an educator.
What kind Of a Newspaper should We
read? Generally the people read
something, whether good or bad. Our
relation to the press Is simply volunta-
ry. We can not lay hands on the edl-
tor and require him to do az we like,
but the people are suficlently numerous
to create sentiment In favor Of such
newspapers as shall meet our higher
demands II we rightly set about to do
II, and we will never accomplish this by
unltlnd and unjust criticism. This kind
OF criticism e INDUCED In too frequent
IL, and By Il we too often forfeit our
claim upon the respectful consideration
Of the press. Generally the public finds
10 truer or better friend than the press.
We can not expect q secular paper to
be strictly religious and vice versa, but
the paper that Christians read should
never be inconsistent with moral and
truly religious aims.
shSldon's Experiment.
Rev. C. II. Sheldon, Of Topeka, Kan
cas-, win soon take charge for a week OF
''rhe Topeka Capital" and show the
people Of this country some Of the pos
abilities Of the daily paper along the
line Of the plans OF business ana morals
suggested BY the teachings Of Christ
hlmelf. We all will watch with interest
the work, and many Of US believe that
this man Of God viii reveal to men
through this experience some things
possible for the daily paper that hereto
fore have been considered Impossible.
To my mind, the newspaper that we
should read should have certain char
acteristIcs that will always make for
our bettefment mentally and morally. i.
This Newspaper that We should read
should be abreast Of the times, Il must