The Washington herald., 1907-10-08
THE OPTIMIST.

There Is a fine cause for optimism In
this celebration to-day Of the birthday OF
The Washington Herald: not alone for
those who are responsible for the paper
and its success, but also for the people
OF Washington. and in larger sense, for
the people OF the nation. For the sue
cess won by The Washington Herald In
this, its first year, is a most hopeful and
encouraging sign OF the times. II is not
so much what material prosperity means
to a newspaper as it is that success
stands, in such a case, for a public In
dorsement Of high ideals. aspiration,
worthy and persistent striving along
direction that makes for the public good.
We are too apt, often, TO take creation
Of a newspaper as a matter Of course,
forgetting that g newspaper, like any In
dlvidual who hopes to accomplish any
thing Of value in the world, must stand
for something. be something. do some
thing II would not hurt US 10 recall
Mary Clemmer's lines:
Only newspaper! Quick read. quick lost
Who sums the treasure that il carries hence?
Torn, trampled under feet, who counts thy cost,
Star-eyed iutellgsucef
The effect OF good newspaper on the
public mind can hardly be overestimated,
and # is not the less strong because the
influence is subtle. William Cullen
Bryant once wrote: The press, i'm
portant as its office, is but the servant OF
the human intellect, and its ministry IS
for good or for evil. according TO the
character Of those who direct IT, The
press is a mill which grinds all that is
put into it's hopper Fill the hopper with
poisoned grain, and it will grind it into
meal. but there Is death in the bread"
In a particular sense newspaper is
/ evolved out OF the community that alb
serbs It, and as Heine said In these
times we fight for ideas, and newspapers
are our fortresses." II. then, a worthy
newspaper free from sensational appeal,
asking for the suffrage Of the intellect.
/ succeeds. Il is because, IN a large meas
ure, il is in the center OF a community
/ that desires the better things in life.
/ Therefore there is cause for hopeful re-
/ joicing and optimism in this anniversary
/ Of The Washington Herald II not only
means that a large number Of people are
I NAlAAi-E ~ ttlH EAkilttA a. JRt-t 4AtAA llicN
| stands for high things; it means also
that the community has high ideals and
aspirations, and, given a chance. is willing
10 choose the best Il means that ir
. Washington there are many who are
ready 20 indorse the saying OF Henry
/ Ward Beecher that the good newspaper
is greater treasure 10 the people thar
uncOunted millions OF gold"
II is good 70 look back on the year
just gone and 10 realize that while at
I times The Washington Herald has falleI
/ short of all the good for which il has
. striven, has yet made truth and honesty
/ and fair dealing rs beacon. and has sale,
/ always toward the light. And the issues
of the paper Of yesterday and of a month
ago. are not dead things, wasted, Eacl
one has had It's message. HIS done IL
work and il is good 10 think that in thi
community thought has been higher am
better because Of The Washington Herald
1t has done what it could 10 bring IN
world Of men and things to the feet o
the people, its appeal has been from
naTT0wness 10 greatness, from ignoranc
10 wisdom. from petty doubts 10 a brOai
faith in the eternal permanencc OF good
And its tnads in the community for Opt
mistic hopefuIness about the future
Cowper wrote once:
Did Charity prevail the press would prove
A vehicle Of virtue, truth, and l9ys.
Il is even 70 such an ideal as that Tn
Washington Herald moves after its yea
OF striving. thankful 20 remember Mar.
Clemmer's apostrophe TO The Journal
ist."
To serve thy generation. this thy fate:
Written IN water, swiftly fades thy name.
But he who loves his kind does first and late
A work too great for fame!