Arizona daily citizen., 1901-10-16
JEFFERSON ON THE PRESS.


chy and yellow journalism began
the views of Thomas Jefferson
concerning these things have bcen
extensively quoted in the press.
In most cases the comments have
been favorable, although few
violent Republican sheets like the
Los Angeles Times and the St
Louis Globe Democrat have seen
fit to denounce him because Of his
opposition to the Infamous alien
and sedition laws.
1t would be ridiculous to say
that Jefferson disbelieved in the
pross. He WAS an ardent champion
of every educating medium the
library, the school and the press
because he knew that n popular
government depends for perpetuity
and efficacy upon thorough un-
derstanding Of policies and princi-
plies. Ho was, perhaps, the first
American to appreciate the power
Of the press in advancing politi-
cal idea, and in his establishment
of a paper to antagoniZe the feder-
alistic tendency Ct the day he gave
testimony to his confidence in its
efficacy He was one of the most
Jealous advocates OF tho freedom
of the press. He once oven went
- far rs to say: We're it left to
mo to decide whether we should
have II government without news
papers or newspapers without n
government, | should not hesitate
moment to prefer the latter
Under present circumstances he
would scarcely hold the same opin-
ion. Even during his life time
some of the newspapers became
decidedly untrustworthy. Jeifer-
son ideal paper would be devoted
exclusively to political, literary
and scientific matters. In adyis-
ing gentleman who was organi-
zng n paper in 1907, he said;
TO your request of my opinion
Of the manner in which a news
pnper should be conducted so as to
be most useful | should answer
by restraining it to true facts
and sound principles only Yet
fear such paper would find few
subscribers. 1t is melancholy
truth that the suppression OF the
press could not more completely
deprive the nation of it's benefits
than is done by it's abandoned
prostitution to falsehood. Moth
ing can Eow be believed which is
seen in newspaper. Truth itself
becomes suspicious by being put
into that polluted vehicle. The
real extent of this state of misin-
formation is known only to those
who are in situations to confront
facts within their knowledge with
the lies of the day.
1t would seem from the above
extract that Jefferson was treated
with as much vituperation as any
other political leader. The fact is
ho was shamefully maligned. There
WAS scarcely a crime or indecency
of which he was not accused. Be-
cause of his principles he was de-
nounced as anarchist, traitor and
fanatic. 1t is doubtful il even
Mr. Bryan has been more shame
fully abused. And yet he never
limited at an abridgment of the
freedom of discussion. From the
following extract it would appear
that he placed the blame more
upon the public than the press;
Perhaps an editor might begin
information in some such way as
this: Divide his paper into four
chapters, heading the first,
Truths" second, probabilities"
third, Probabilities" fourth.
Lies. The first chapter would
be short, as il would contain little
more than authentic papers, and
information from such sources as
the editor would be willing to risk
his own reputation for their truth.
The second would contain what
from mature consideration of all
circumstances, his judgment would
conclude to be probably true.
This, however. should rather con
tain too little than to much The
third and fourth should be pro
fessidly for those readers who
would rather have lies for their
money than the blank paper they
would occupy.
After all the yellow journal
comes to satisfy very largo and
over-growing element that glories
/