The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-18
The sunday Newspaper.

(From the Atlanta Constitutionl
The Evangelical Ministerial association Of the
city on Monday voted down a resolution looking
to the organization in Atlanta Of boyooting
movement against the Sunday issues Of the news
papers We really had no expectation that they
would do otherwise when they cooly and ration
ally came to deal with that proposal. They are
an exceptionally able body Of men, called hther
from many sections of the country because Of
their intellectual soundness and substantial piety
10 minister to the rational religious necessities
OF our people IL would have been a curious
rtverson TO long -dstanced traditions had they
accepted the issue rendered by the illeonsidered
resolution.
The Sunday newspaper is like the Sunday in
dvidua and like him may be ribald or reverent.
We do not hold and no sensible man does, that
all Sunday newspapers arc wholesome Sunday
literature But the content OF the paper is de-
termned by two factors, the personal equation
Of IFS management and the dominant demand OF
its patrons. And in most cases the former CON
trolls the latter, for appetite in newspaper read
ing is created much as it is in meats and drinks.
The wise man, therefore, will justly discriminate
between purveyors OF news as he does between
purveyors OF beef and beer.
The Constitution, TO speak without egotism,
has always stood for those things in public life
that it believed conducive TO law and order, and
good morals Its efforts have been added
wherever possible to those Of the ministry and
ali other good men and women to conserve rover
ence for things sacred and to help forward every
religious, charitable and ethical interest Of the
people. Its news columns are cleaner than the
average life Of the day would make them il we
admitted all its records of sin, and shame, and
crime. while its literature is carefully chosen TO
aid the betterment Of society rather than its
degradation.
1t is not. however for the Constitutions sake
that VIC take up this matter and commend the
conservative action Of the Atlanta ministers. 1t
is because in the evolution OF social systems and
their necessities such incidents the Sunday
newspaper have come 10 be by no connivance Of
greed ard no consensus of disrespect for holy
day. Like other adjuncts of civilization which
minister to rubc needs that have no conven-
tioual cessation the Sunday newspaper meets
and satisfies a demand that, If not supplied by
that which is innocrous, will surely gravitate to
that which is. No surer proof OF the fact is
needed than to note what happens where intel
| leetuality in the masses is low and the public
appetite for employments in recreation other
than religious goes to lower and brutal forms
of satisfaction Here is the rational, indeed, of
the oock-hghting, bull-hghting and other semi
savage Sunday orgies OF unenightened races.
It is far wiser that all persons concerned in
the moral elevation of the community should
realize that against a strong demand for a
| species of satisfaction the plan OF substitution
is better than that of drastic prohibition. The
Sunday newspaper is more willing, as rule, to
| work in harmony with the ministers than to
invite and combat their antagonism. When both
can work without friction with common intent
to encourage men and women to better thinking,
purer living and healthier social ethics a world
of good will follow their cooperation.
| The spirit of the age is favorable to such a
combination OF efforts and we hazard nothing in
saying that whenever the ministers make allies Of
| the press, even of its Sunday issues they will
have reason to rejoice not only in better social
conditions, but in better opportunities to make
| their own abors effective.