The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-06-08
EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY
IN PUBLIC MORALS
The Able and inspiring Address Of Ed
itor J. w. White OF the Fraternai
Record


Record
Ifr. President. Ladies and Gentle
men-To those Of us--and we are still
a mighty army-who believe in the
larger thought Of God, and the power
full forces Of His universe, who seek
the freer step, the fuller breath, the
greater faith and the stronger hope.
there is a desire to promote and TO Sc
cure purity. higher. nobIer. healthier
living, public spirit true piety, honest
business methods. and patriotism in
the hearts Of men
Our readers are entitled 10 the
thoughts that will make them better
and happier as well IL more lnteIli-
gent
believe in the FatherhoOd Of God.
the brotherhood Of man. the salvation
Of the race by character and the pro-
gress OF mankind upward and onward
forever-and 1 preach it.
know that the editor OF today who
seeks 10 lead men in the right direc-
ton must deal with facts. he must be
practical and in earnest, and must
keep in touch with the world, his heart
as well as his head must be right and
Il
editor who realizes his responsibility
In the matter OF public morals viii
exercise the greatest care in the selec-
ton Of every picture advertisement or
editorial that finds place in his publ
cation. What a poor world this would
be without pictures. refer TO your
memory and mine when I ask IL your
knowledge Of the Holy Scriptures has
not been enlarged by the wood-cuts or
engravings in the old family Bible, out
Of which father and mother read, and
Laid on the table in the old home
stead when you were boys and girls.
These scenes, which we all carry in
our mind, were not gotten by reading
the Bible, but from the Bible pictures
What Is true Of the Bible pictures is
true OF the pictures in that old spell
fng-book Of our bOyhoOd, and what is
true OF the lasting impressions made
by the pictures in these two books is
true in large measure of the news
paper cuts Of the present day First,
painters pencil for the favored few,
then engravers' plate for the thous-
ands and now the beautiful haIf-tone
cuts for the millions. Let no book or
paper in America contain a single pic
ture that win deprave. Have nothing
that viii familiarize the young with
scenes OF cruelty or intemperance:
have those pictures that elevate and
refine and none OF those scenes that
seem the product Of artistic deIirium
tremens or the poorly paid advertise
ments OF some cheap patent medicine
or whiskey house. One engraving may
decide an eternal destiny
1 did not select this subject OF Ed
itorial Responsibility in the Matter Of
Public Morals" and so I am going TO
tell you right here tonight, in a spirit
OF truth, what I honestly conceive TO
be one Of the greatest evils Of the age,
and in this connection let me implOre
my brother editors to give me credit
for honesty Of purpose rather than
criticism for criticisms sake
The present day immortality is large
ly due to the spread Of intemperance.
The dealer in rum is hard pressed by
all classes in society The church OF
the living God has long ago excluded
him. Our great fraternaI societies have
barred their doors against him. He is
crowded out OF business and society
circles and left 10 roam as an outcast,
the better element everywhere disown-
ing him. and still our newspapers are
filed with advertisements Of his H.
quid damnatiOn. The saloon is a relic
OF barbarism. and but for the greed
that many have for money, 1t would be
sent back 10 the pit from whence il
came.
If thief or burglar enters my home
by night and steals my property. and
IL should call for help. the city mar
shall and the police force would be at
my command. My neighbors would
rally in bringing that thief TO justice,
This Is right. A saloon may be open
ed I'm my town. enter the sacred pre-
cincts OF the home. take it's brightest
and best son and daughter, make them
drunkards or a drunkard's wife. The
police power OF the state is asked to
protect the home. but they say that. the
saloon must run to get revenue TO pave
our streets and TO light our cities. In
order that the saloon may run, some
body's boy must become a drunkard
and somebody's daughter must become
a drunkard's wife. Will not the peo-
pie OF Florida. aided by the press. put
which a mans family may be protect
ed from the ravages Of the saloon
equally strong with that which says
that we shall have protection from
thieves and burglars?
Just a word about patent medicine
advertisements and am done with this
part Of my subject. When / see a
newspaper. especially a religious pa
per- advertising Mrs. Winslow's Sooth-
ing Syrup. the principle ingredient OF
which is opium. which is sold in some
countries labelled poison" and which
is working untold harm to hundreds
of thousands Of little children who are
dosed with it: when I see double col
umn advertisements of Hoods. Ayers
and other sarsaparillas etc. which
contain a heavy percentage of alcohol
Fig Syrup. Pe-ru-na. iquozone, and
other advertisements of the same
character interspersed with bargains
hymn books and Bibles for the saving
of mems souls. then / am almost con-
WINGED that il there is no hell there
should be one created at once.
I am not like my good friend, Past
President McBeath. who so eloquently