The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-01-19
The Newspaper AS a Critic.

An exchange tells the story Of a
newspaper, published in a New York
town which exposed corruption In local
politics and met an exaggerated case Of
systematic opposition. The politicians
intimidated many of the advertisers
into Withdrawing patronage, and
declared they would drive or starve
the editor out of town. At the most
trying time in the struggle, help came
to the paper in the most unexpected
manner. The Roman Catholic priest
of the town, with large church and
following, came into the battle and
threw a bombshell into the camp of
the ringsters by announcing, in his
church, that he should give one-half
Of his years salary toward support
of the editor, that he should take
pains to patronize the merchants who
advertised in the paper, and this he
hoped his parishioners would also do.
II do this in the name of fair play,
hood" said the clergyman. "He is a
Protestant and I am a priest of the
Roman Catholic church, but we are
brother Americans, and fight at his
side" .-.r
Such spirit as this-the right
profess to stand for the greatest good
and purity in q community would
soon work wonders in the way of
reformation along many lines, and the
facts in the story are worthy of more
than passing notice.
That the newspaper should assume
the position of critic as to public mat
ters there is not the slightest doubt.
In the position of critic it should deal
In honest, fair criticism. That II will
sometimes err there is less doubt
than in the assumption that 1t is
within its province to criticise, but
that 1t has duty to perform, In lay
Ing bare for public gaze the under
current of corruption in any form,
which threatens the best interests of
the people 1t serves, when that cor
ruption is known, is unquestionable
That good citizenship, to say nothing
OF Christian zeal, should prompt men
to support the press in any honest
warfare against intrigue and corrup-
tion, as did the priest in the example
cited above, we think all will agree
who have at heart the best love of
home and country Agree, yes, but
the lack OF manhood which will bring
then to an open declaration upon
the side of right, as in the case of
this Catholic priest, is most deplor-
able, and no where felt as 1t Is by the
editors of the country in Just such
cases as this of our story.
We would not have II understood
that we are champions OF the right
Of the paper to such criticism as has
only In view the attainment Of per.
sonal ends, or the satisfying of some
personal hate or malice. That weapon
OF revenge, vulgarly known as the
roast" which like the dagger of the
coward, is to be thrust into the un-
armed and defenseless, is profession
ally too despicable for consideration.
That criticism which has In it the
poison OF personal hatred prostitutes
the paper and degrades it's editor,
but when the criticism Of the press is
aimed at that which is Of public inter
est in its threatening attitude to.
ward public welfare, 1t then becomes
the duty Of the best citizenship to
sustain II In Its severest censure of
the wrong.
Notwithstanding this plain duty of
the citizen In support Of proper crit.
icism, the fact remains that too sci.
dam is 1t possible to find such sterl.
Ing manhood as eyinced by the New
York clergyman, and as conse.
quence, knowing this lack of support,
this liability to self-destruction of his
own business, too few editors and
publishers feel that they can face
these questions Of public good, and
we have weak and useless medium
Tor the moulding OF public opinion.
Party power and business relations
too frequently muzzle the presp, not
always because II is the desire of the
editor or owner but because back of
the aoliar, upon which Is the seem
ingly false inscription, In God we
trust" Is hidden the better dictation
OF Judgment and conscience. for fear
OF present loss which could not be
sustained: for fear Of that lack of
moral support which should come
from the better element, but which is
only rarely given as 1t was by this
fearless representative of strong
church and power In his city. n the
press could have such support as this.
from those. who desire the best In 10
cial and governmental conditions.
there wonld be clearing up In hun
sreds Of communities which would |
make for the coming generation bet-
Ter places in which to live. and give
W our national life an approximate