The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-21
PRESS A POWER UNTIL
IT BECOMES AN ORGAN
Opinion
Powerful Coerve Influence Society Agains
o r Membe

members IN The fnuuence of puDitc opin
fon. The power OF the press In this re
gard arises from the fact that IL speaks
or fs believed 10 speak, what eyerybod.
a. saying at the time. As soon as
paper IN recognized as somebody's 'or
gan ks healtbfuI influence as news
paper H. gone ("
Attorney General Charles j. Bonaparte
IN his annual address as head OF the Ma
tional Municipal league, last evening In
sayes hall. Brown university. before the
delegates OF that body and of the Ameri-
can Civic association. thus epitomized his
subject. Government by Public opin-
ION"
The address followed a day given over
20 conferences on various themes con-
Quoted by both the national societies.
which are holding "A four days meeting
I'm this city. Taxation I'm its manifold
ramifications and electoral reform shared
with the business of electng officers the
time and attention of the delegates In
attendance upon the leagues morning
and afternoon sessions Municipal adorn-
mere consideration OF the locomotive
smoke nuisance, the desirability OF elimi-
mating Objectionable billboard advertis-
Ing. and forest preservation and conser-
walton were subjects with which the Civ
&c association members were vitality con-
cerned throughout the day.
President Bonaparte declared that in a
healthy government public opinion was
the indispensable instrument through
and by which all really useful and sensl-
BILE reforms are brought about and made
lasting" He clearly differentiated. how
ever. between sentiment inspired main
ly by morbid sympathy with wrongdoers,
which resulted in hostility toward capital
punishment. or prejudice or passion that
created an antipathy toward red black
or yellow men I'm some. sections OF the
country. and true public opinion. and In
passing asserted that he believed that
american public opinion demands with
daily increasing emphasis that all our
laws be respected by all our citizens"
DEVELOPS SENSE OF JUSTICE.
lie explained that IL created for the
average man much larger world than
existed for him before the advent OF
newspapers. and. in developing his sense
OF perspective and proportion, it also de-
vcloped his sense of justice. He outlined
also how newspaper. In the exercise
OF Its legitimate and salutary power OF
showing the first thought" OF the ordi-
nary citizen on all matters OF current
public interest. did the community a dou-
BILE service, in giving shape and direction
H.
creasing its force.
The first duty OF the press" he con-
ciuded. lis to hold up before the people
faithful mirror; II IL display distorted
pictures II fatally betrays its trust"
President J. Horace Mcfarland of the
Amerlcan CIVIC association presided. and
Attorney General Bonaparte was greeted
with applause when President Mcfarland
presented him to his audience. In part
he said:
There is no doubt of the fact that un-
popular governments nearly always try
10 hamper and restrict the right OF peti- |
lion; no one wishes to be asked often
earnestly and By many what he does not
mean I. 10 grant free press. however:
history. no government in any country, |
out OF sympathy with the people II ruled |
has ever permanently tolerated a free |
press; sooner or later. II has been always !
forced either to muzzle the press or TO |
change It's own principles. This has not |
been only or mainly through fear OF pop /
iilar disorder: this fear. when alleged. has /
peen more frequently pretext than
real motive. In truth. no man wishes 10 |
know that his fellow men generally hate |
or despise him, and. IL he cannot other
wise shut out the fact from his con-
rciousness, and has tho power, he will |
sag them
Certain OF our newspapers. including
some whose influence within my memory,
indeed within but a comparatively few
. otcf NsiN HNNtlf anu "a power lOf |
good, in the community. are now firmly
and widely believed TO be virtually or
even literally. owned by wel-known In
forests: In other words. by wealthy men |
engaged In far-reaching enterprises
BECOME TRADE ORGANS"
This Widespread and very confident be- |
lief as TO such ownership makes them vir- |
tually trade organs with but little more
innuence than the papers published aVow- |
edly as such, and. what Is even more un-
Fortunate IL leads TO a very general sus- |
piclon that other papers may be secretly |
IN the same situation. A newspaper un- |
der suspicion Is almost as manned for |
healthy Influence as IL the suspicion had |
been proven well founded: for the leCiti- |
mate and salutary power OF "a newspaper |
lies I'm its showing and being thought TO |
show the first thought" OF the ordinary |
citizen on all matters OF current public |
interest. In showing this It does the
shape and direction to public opinion and
II enormously increases the latter's force |
Moreover. the grenter mass of man
kind do not know what they really think
until somebody tells them: they recog-
nize their own opinions when these are
expressed for them by another; then and
only then are they ready to act.
1T must be remembered I'm this con-
lection that an editor Is necessarily a
politician, or. at all events he ought 10
,e one. In fact, an editor is a politician
whether he wishes 10 be or not: II he
viii not speak on subjects connected with
,oiitlcs. his very silence is way OF
caling with them"
Edward NJ. Hartwel. Boston's statis- |
ician. made brief verbal report. saying |
hat the police OF various cities had been
with on the question OF |
eform In their departments. but with
ut much satisfaction except in New
FORK. In the latter city Gen. Bingham.
vho had proved an energetic police COM
had been able 10 break up the
ystem OF entrenchment among SER
ants and inspectors which formerly
xisted. No radical study OF the sub
ect and no material Improvement had
aiken place In any city In the country.
generally speaking, within the past two
ears, so far as the speaker knew, and
e did not look for any radical change
3 the result OF investigation for the next
I've years
Mayor James T. Baxter OF Portland.
ie.. extended an Invitation from the
'ortland Board OF Trade and from the Z
ity for the league and the American
ivic association 10 meet in that city
ext year.
The session then adjourned at n:so !
. m.
AT the afternoon session OF the Ma
onal Municipal league In Wilson hall !