The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
Christian journalism I'm Kansas.

We are apprehensive that the scheme OF
/ the Rev. Mr. Sheldon to run the Topeka
( Daily Capital" for a week as Christ would
( conduct it, were he on earth, will not be
productive OF good TO the cause OF religion.
There may not be anything consciously ir-
/ reverent in the conceptions or propositions
/ Of this sensational preacher. but it must be
I admitted that the natural tendency of his
plan and methods is to excite irreverence
/ in others.
Mr.. Sheldon. to begin with, has sin
gular notion Of dealing with his adver-
tisers. He proposes TO charge all out-of-
town advertisers twenty dollars an inch
per insertion during the holy week while
local merchants are accommodated at the
old and much cheaper rates. II this does
not strain the Golden Rule and make flesh
Of some Of Gods children while treating
others as unclean fish our logic Is at fault.
In like manner. he refuses advertisements
from Kansas City customers because be
says that town completes with Topeka. and
because a just publisher in the olden time
would have insisted upon discriminating
tariff to protect the infant industries OF
Jerusalem from the cheap labor and imita-
ton wares OF Jericho.
In the matter OF patent medicine adver-
tisements it is 10 be apprehended that Mr.
sheldon has made another mistake. He ad-
mits that some OF the medicinal prepara-
tions offered to the public ard guaranteed
to produce miraculous cures in six easy
bottles may be good and worthy Of a place
in his columns: but he is satisfied that
some others are unclean, as the He
brew scholars would say, and so he ex-
cludes the whole lot. Yea there are among
them some to which he is likely to resort
himself when that tired Feeling comes DER
him before be finishes his self-infiicted but
pyrotechnic mission.
Above all things, the average heather |
viii envy Mr.. Sheldon his ability to see
anything pruriently suggestive in the illus !
tTations which usually go with magazine /
Of female garments. The !
principle of these painful wood !
cuts may be erotic but if they are to be /
anathema then so should be the wooden I
LAAdu HE Aite tuhA tempt lht NltlouSH mo 3
the clutches Of the unregenerate tobac-
eonist Mr.. Sheldon will allow no maya
ZINES which advertise patent medicines, or
print suggestive cuts" to figure in the
Daily Capital even by name. We need
rot say that all references TO sles wines
md liquors are absolutely barred. He will
rot even permit the Keeley Cure to be
4 n
Sheldon view is that drunkenness is not a
disease 10 be treated by human means.
What it wants is Christian editorship and
Prohibition. OF the latter Topeka is about
be most shining and shocking example ex-
ant.
There is not the least doubt in the world
hat. as a journalistic enterprise OF the
elbow order, the novel and sensational ad-
enture Of the Topeka Daily Capital" will
e a great success. financially considered.
But when it comes 10 be regarded from the
ieupoiuts Of religion and ethics. there is
eason TO doubt its elevating CT soul-savng
esults The Sheldon idea deals too famil-
lrly. not to say impudently, with sacred
nings. The assumption that this preacher
nows just how Christ would conduct a
rovincial newspaper, and his proposition
0 demonstrate that knowledge, may de- ,
ght people who are willing to have the
hristian propaganda conducted under the
onditions and by the methods OF continu-
US vaudeville performances; but sober and
ayerent followers Of the Man Of Galilee
re not likely 10 be much pleased OF edi-
ed by he spectacle.