The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-07-18
IRELAND AND THE PRESS.

IRELAND AND THE PRESS.
Archbishop Ireland of st. Paul, who
stands closer to Professionals than any
man clothed in Catholic raiment, and
who is liked by all classes of Ameri-
cans, delivered an interesting address
before the National Educational as
ISOLATION at is annual meeting at Min
neapolis. The archbishop took as his
subject, Devotion to the Truth; the
Chief Virtue of the Teacher" Among
the teachers to whom the great pre-
late gave advice were the newspa-
pers. His conception of what the lat
ter should be is contained in the fol-
lowing, taken from his address:
eff l. were to choose where outside
the class room for the general vel
fare of humanity I should have devo-
ton to truth prevails, 1 should name
the newspaper. The newspaper is to
day prominently the mentor of the
| people; it is read by all; it is believ-
ed nearly by all. It's influence is par
amount: it's responsibility is ire
mendous. It's province is to narrate
facts-to give the truth, nothing but
the truth, and all the truth-to allow
both parties to a controversy to be
heard-never to palliate or distort;
never to omit, when that which is
omitted may be of relevancy in the
formation of public opinion; never to
publish the doubtful is certain, the
mere gossip as well-ascertained news;
never, above all else, to put before
readers error and falsehood. Facts
given, the editor is at liberty to argue
for them in favor of his w tenets,
and even her let there be r%adiating
throug limpid lines the fair love of
truth, rather than the wish to extol
party or sect"
The newspaper is a powerful teach
er. There have been and there are
many newspapers which are bad
teachers, says the Minneapolis Jour-
nal. None of them measure up to
the requirements of their calling, for
newspapers are made by men, and
they fail and come short of perfec-
ton. just as individual men-even the
best-do. But after all the asper-
sions that have been made upon the
| American press have been given their
due consideration the fact remains
that it is, as a whole, a great power
in the community for improvement.
There is a surprisingly large number
of able and popular daily papers con-
Quoted along the general lines of the
archbishop's ideal.
Men are given to praising the old
personal newspaper, which was
principally a reflection of one mans
personality, but it was a narrow and
intolerant publication compared with
the independent modern newspaper.
The old-time editor never thought of
giving the other side of a controversy
d hearing in his columns. He deliber.
ately and conscientiously suppressed
natter that did not reinforce a prior
editorial vl=M. There are scores OF
great pap ers III this country to lay
that are quite willing to permit the
other side of a controversy to be
heard in their columns, no matter how
positive or vigorous may be the edi-
torial position. The modern editor is
quite ready to publish both sides, to
argue n side and let the public
judge for itself whether the facts JUS
tify the argument.
There are plenty of papers that are
still %lop-sided, that still fear the truth,
and during political campaigns most
of u papers become special pleaders
to such an extent that omissions of
damaging facts are winked at. But
in this case there is the excuse that
the papers of the other side will not
overlook the unpleasant matter, and
will give it an Importance in consid.
Grafton that magnifies it quite as much
as omission on the other side BELT
ties it.
1t is true that the newspapers in
%fluence is paramount and that it's re
sponsibility is tremendous. But it is
; not SO much by expressing an opinion
that it primarily gains it's power as
: by presenting the truth. It's express