The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-25
TIMELY OPINIONS.
What the Best Thinkers Say of Cur
rent EvenJs.
PhiIadeIphia,s Newspapers.

Correspondence of The Sun.
Philadelphia, Jan. 24.-The evolution
of daily journals in Philadelphia-the
rise or falls interesting.
Ten years ago the Public Ledger"
was a respected power. Today, as the
result of granny" management and the
papers unreliable editorial course it has
dropped to almost the lowest rung of the
ladder in circulation and influence.
"The Press" only few years since
was recognized as the representative Re
publican organ in Pennsylvania. This
status was inherited from the brilliant
John w. Forney. Through Il persistent
and suicidal opposition since to the
party's organization, us well ms the most
| injudiciouS editorial utterances. the pres
| tige Of the journal has been killed and its
influence fallen to n mere nominal point.
| Meanwhile THE Inquirer" has steadily
forged to the front in the hearts of Re
publicans, and the papers circulation
leapcd to the top notch among compet
| itorS.
"The Times" too, held marked sway
ten years ago because of its "independ-
ent" fearlcssncSs. But the temptation to
drift into guerrilla methods followed. i. e.,
the throttlng Of editors honest opinions
to the highest bidders, and the public
soon read between the lines that sin
dependence" had fallen, and The Times
went with it.
"Ihe Record" that originally gained
| circulation ms the pioneer one cenc paper,
seems 10 hold its own, despite several
| crooked places it had to cross.
For decades the McAIichaels continued
the old "North American in an in
different manner until the Wanamakers
assumed control. The advent Of this
family into the journalistic arena of
Philadelphia led some people to hope that
the pretcntious reformcrs might publish
an honest paper for III. public good.
But also. it too, has served only per-
sonal cnds--vcntcd spleen upon all who
have tlwnrtcd the political ambitions
of the distinguished director of the
paper. BY its malignant and indecent
course the title yellow" has been
well earned among dailias.
Ten years ago the Telegraph" led
the evening papers and the Bulletin"
struggled for existence. Today the con-
ditionS Of the papers are reversed 1t is
only Il short time. too, since the Even
ing Call had II large clientele of read
ers. and now the paper has ceased to
print.
There me lessons to he taken from
thcs" urs and downs of public journals.
1t is patrnt from all the chcckered in
stances cited that the masses Of people
are fully capable Of discerning true and
honest journalism from that which is
snbS"rvient AMI held at n price. There
is resentment against dailieS that pcrvcrt
ana falsity news. Such course. for in
stance. as was pursued by combination
of llilalclnhin papers against Senator
Quay and in obedience to the desires Of
Mr.. John Wanamnkcr The same tao
tics Of deception are now being circu-
lated against Mr. J. Edward Addicks of
Delaware, I" crcate the impression that
he is il different sort Of man from what
he really ". The very fact of his recog-
nized force aud ability has made of him
Il shining mark for the subsidized organs
Of Mr.. Wananalcr. The lesson imposed
by the people through the election of Mr..
Quay will J." followed in Delaware by
another admonition to the unreliable
publications. Mr.. Addicks will lie United
states senator, and all the scandalzing
daily prints cannot prevent it.