The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-04-16
AMERICAS FIRST CATHOLIC DAILY.

At last the much discussed project of Catholic
daily paper is to be undertaken III good earnest
Of the various parties which of late years have been
approached to engineer the enterprise of launching
in Amrica the first Catholic daily newspaper III
the English language | find that the publishers
of the Buffalo Volksfreund are by far the most
suitable and best equipped, wrotes Rev. NJ Arnoldl-
The are only made themselves worthy OF the
confidence of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, the Rev. Clergy
of Buffalo and the east as who have Catholic
interests at heart, but they furthermore have an
experience of 36 years in the work of issuing a
secular daily in German, which through all these
many years stood up for the Catholic cause as
time and circumstances demanded.
1t is now their intention and determination IN
the near future to publish frst-class, up-to-date,
clean politically independent, American, daily, PEN
ny paper, with Catholic tendencies. And they enter
upon the agreement with the stockholders and sub
scribers to the effect that the Catholic daily
will remain such during is entire career This
daily is to be a secular paper under Catholic aus
pices; therefore religious paper as are most of
Catholic weeklies.
Much credit is to be given to the American
Catholic weekly newspapers in the immense amount
of good they have done in past years and still
doing for the cause of religion and correct Christ
ian principles, though some of them for want of
proper support labored under great disadvantages.
Indeed, our Catholic Weekes must be kept up by
all means, and such support ought to be given them
that every one them will be able to become high
toned and powerful factor IN the field of American
journalism.
But we all can readily see that the time has
come when Catholics must expand on this all-m-
portant field by creating able and vigorous daily
papers in various parts of this our progressive
country. How can we otherwise exercise a great
and wholesome influence ON public opinion and be
sufficiently instrumental in safeguarding the in
terests of both Church and State in this period of
clashing interests!
Our present Spiritual Chieftain, Pope Plus X
not less than his eminent predecessor Pope Leo
Alll, gave US to understand, that we should real
lze the great power of the press. The former not
long ago after he had blessed the pen of journal
ist said whilst handing it back: 'ENo one has a
nobler mission i'll the world today than Christian
Journalist The latter in his enyclicaI letter of
October Is, 1890 gave the following advice:
"Since the chief means in the service of our
adyersarles IS the press, strongly influenced and
supported by them, it behooves that Catholics put
i'll opposition to the bad press one which is good
and jealous in tRe defense of truth in the protec
ton of religion, and a representative of Cath
Ollie rights. The task of the Catholic press con-
slsts i'll pointing out the pernieious aims and
schemes of the enemies of the Church to assist the
custodlans of the house of God in their labors
and to advance Catholic interests, as much as
possible On the other hand it is the duty of Cath
ohcs generously to support the good press and to
have nothing whatever to. do with that which is
d"-H American Catholics will follow this direc-
ton of the Holy Father it will not be long before
we will have fourishing Catholic aies in different
parts of the United States