The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-24

there, ever susceptible Of unsuccessful
though glorious attack, and sure to evoke
an earnest response from n downtrodden,
overcrowded people
AND THE sCRAPPY PERIODICALS.
II by cha nce the Car should grant a
measure Of liberty TO the Russian people,
the real excitement in this town will be.
not over the freeing of millions. but as 20
which OF our popular evening newspa pers
saw him first and made him do it. This
lately developed theory of the basis OF
successful journalism is no longer confined
TO the daily newspaper: 1t has invaded the
thoughtful minds OF makers of periodicals.,
Nearly every magazine now has it's pet
diversion upon which it turns monthly
or weekly guns with utmost gusto and
grim satisfaction. For long time we
cherished the hope that our professionally
witty paper would escape the injection OF
this virus but even that has finally yielded
and is now exerting it's powerful and scath-
ing endeavors in the reformation of the
theatrical business.
i do not deplore this tendency. It ia
undoubtedly the province. Of the public
journal to expose and 10 help to remedy
public abuses, but 1t was once said, more
or less truthfully, that there may lie too
much of a good thing. Persistence is an
admirable quality but sometimes becomes
tiresone and WEAKNESS OF spirit is not con-
ducive ordinarily 10 effectiveness. To a
peace loving, fairly contented and mod
erately happy people what, in the multi
tude Of daily. weekly and monthly. fighting
journals, could be more cheering at this
time than one inoifensive. good natured
even optimistic publication without mis-
sion OF any kind and serving no other pur-
pose than 70 leaven the lump?
PRAISE FOR FREE JoUREAIIsM
in broader sense, has the American
newspaper kept pace with that general in
dustrial development which has becume
marvel for history That some important
changes have taken place we ali know.
GENERALLY speaking, as was to have been
eIpe cted, values of newspapers as proper
ties have greatly enhanced. Fewer journals
are eklng out mere existence: more are
producing large incomes There has en-
sued. as an inevitable sequence, the con-
servatisn attendant upon prosperity. This
was peculiarly noticeable in the latest
national campaign, when practically all
the great independent newspapers, some
inetinctively. some deliberately, supported
the candidate OF caution for edoomed 70
defeat.
Again, We find to-day the American
press most solid in upholding our most
unpopular Legislative body in its attitude
OF direct antaRonism to our most popular
Executive. This position may be right-it
may be wrong It may be attributed in
part perhaps, TO the unconsciously de-
yeloped conservatism to which | have re-
ferred. But primarily It Is an Illuminating
OF true independence, based
upon conviction and not upon hope of
material benefit.
In this respect, the most important OF
all, the most vital to the maintenance
OF the truest ideal Of Journalism, there has
been wrought vast change for the better
80 iae as twenty years ago the pail Of
craftsmanship rested upon newspaper Of
fees as black as the very ink OF the Rus
sian censor. IL has lifted. The Journalism
OF intellect is no longer fettered The
journalism OF conscience ia free The
Journalism Of courage has supplanted the
journalism of circulation. How nsign f.
cant seem the minor defects as coutrasted
with this long stride forward.