The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-21

| into almost every home in the land. and in measure, molding public opfn- ion on que. .-Jns. moral, civil and so- | cial. ours Is by far the most import ant avocation among men. tThe minis try Is a vocation, and is therefore ex- l cepted from this statemsnt.) We should pursue our duties with proper appre- | liation of our possibilities for good or evil. Public opinion Is moided in a very large measure by the press and | pulpit. Very few people think for | themselves. Indeed, very few people | are capable of arriving at their own | conclusions by an intelligent investiga- ton for themselves on any great Ques- ton. And the influence of articles can never be fully enumerated when we have written what we have written" and sent 1t out on it's mission. We can never recall It's influence. Infiu- | ence exerted in every mind produce It's effect in making character. This influence is immortal. 1t can never de. We should exercise great care as to what we write ourselves, and what we admit into our columns. written oy others.
 But the press is doing much for the furtherance of morality. Many papers publish from week to week excellent
 
 son. studied by the evangelical churches of the country. Thay also publish weekly sermons. in whole or in part. which are read doubtless by many who never attended church. So | far as I know, the press is uniformly kind and helpful to the ministry and the church. It is also great deal to the credit of the press the interest taken in establishing Reform schools Ia ho ri taf fxl ina the hNnA- fit of the unfortunate among us, both old and young.
 In many instances the first moral in- fiuence brought to bear upon these un- fortunate ones Is in these institutions. In aiding in establishing and main taining these places conducted by good Christian women you are doing much for the furtherance of morality. The press of Alabama is to be congratulat- ed in that there Is not single sensa- tlonal Journal in the borders of our commonwealth. The morals of our pec- pie are conserved by the high class of our publications.
 Those papers that drag the sewers. | and dish out in detail greatly magni- fled, every scandal Of which they can hear. are not fit to go into any decent home.
 But. with due appreciation of all that | great deal more might be accomplish cd. If every editor would give his un- equivocal editorial endorsement to every right cause, and unhesitatingiy and in unmistakable terms, his denun- citation of every wrong thing, the nor ality of the country would be very greatly and rapidly advanced.
 There has been a decided improve ment in the moral tone of the press in HA papers do not hesitate to speak out in no uncertain sound against certain fnrms of vice, and where this Is the case. it is very hard for that vice to exist.
 Some may feel tha. they are de- pendent upon their profession for their livelihood. and that they can i'll afford to antagonize certain interests, and sustain the loss that would thereby be eutaited. There is but one thing under | Heaven that g. man can not anoru to do. and that is to be silent when he ought to speak, or to speak on the wrong side of a moral question. He can well afford to starve to death, but he can not afford to fail to discharge his Highest and most sacred obligations to those around him in the furtherance of their moral interests. We should all live with a view to the "recompenSe of reward" to the day when every word and every work shall be brought into judgment, and when we shall be re- wartied or punished according to the deeds done in the boy. There will not be much difference between those of us who thus live and act. Let us remem- ber-
 There Is a life above, Unmeasured by the flight of years,
 and that
 There Is a death, whose bitter panE Outlasts the fleeting breath"
 Let us ever put manhood above money. and God above gold. Whatever the result may be to us, our tongues and pens should be absolutely loyal to our heads and hearts on all moral questions.
 From my standpoint, some papers do things they ought not to do. You may differ from me. If 50. accord to you a perfect right to your own opin- ion. Ali ask Is the right to express my own opinions, and defend my own convictions.
 There are some social customs among us that are wrong in themselves, and can not fail to be denoraliEing. Gamb- ling is wrong anywhere, and every where. It Is wrong in the negro who shoots craps" It is wrong in places kept for this purpose. and indulged in by the "genteel." It is wrong In the home. I am persuaded that ladies who meet and play cards for prizes, and publish with perfect impunity who wont the prize, are guilty of greater wrong than they themselves are aware of. TO constitute gambling. 1t is not necessary that the stake shall be money. It may be some article of cut glass, but. it for a stake Of any sort, 1t Is gambling How can you exnect boys to come out of such homes, and not be gamblers. If the press gan not correct this evil, 1t can at least abate 1t by not giving pub licity to it.
 In our political life, we should not advocate any man for high official pO- eition whose influence Is not on the rieht side of all moral questions. Every official should be a man of such moral character that the young men of the country may be pointed to him as worthy example for them on questions of morals Not long since gentle man asked me about the moral char ncter of certain prominent man in Alabama He said he knew what the paners said about him. but he said he also knew that some papers speak in very high terms of men that he Knew 10 be very bad men morally. \ man ct had moral character should not be ex- ahed to official position. and his in- fiuence be thus widened. Let us be | careful not to commend men whom we know to he men of bad moral char acter. ..-..