New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-25
FLING At THE PRESS.
DR.. Parkhmst Says 1t Seeks Only
the abnormal IN Life.

With the dependency of the prophet Elijah
a motive and the prevalence of what he called "a
moral panic among reputable people as an inspira-
ton, DR.. Parkhurst in his sermon yesterday found
occasion TO lash the newspapers After he had
done so and cited instances Of what he called the
depravity OF modern Journalism, the doctor told
the congregation Of Madison Square Presbyterian
Church that he was not crtiCisng,' and that
perhaps. after all. If he were managing news
paper he would manage it n that way" He in
directly referred 10 the Thaw trial
To begin with he said, Elijah became so wrapped
UP In his own self that he became respondent over
the condition Of things about him. Elijah thought,
DIR. Parkhurst said that he the only one left
TO attend to things. and that when he was gone
there would be left but God himself
These symptoms the doctor argued. were those OF
a mind that is not at its best, and, on the whole,
were "a mild form Of lunacy."
Then he came down TO modern times. 10 the
present day in Manhattan, and found similar de-
spondency. and also found cause for 1.-THE press
1T is the press undoubtedly" he said. that IS,
to considerable extent, responsible for the condi-
ton OF moral panic existing among the reputable
elements of the community 1 do not say that as
a criticism OF the press. a statement Of fact
Journalism lives upon the exceptional. upon that
which is out of the ordinary. 1t has interest IN
that which is usual The reading public IS not, OF
course. excited by what IS usual. and therefore
there Is money in publishing what is usual II
out OF every one hundred men niuety-ni were
thieves and prodigates and only one behaved him
SELF IL would then be the Who behaved himself
that the press would take TO its arms and caress
with obituaries.
The press Is not a mirror 20 be held up 70 nat
ure. II is grand convex reflector, exhibiting IN
magnihed form the distortions of nature A man
may live righteously eighty years, do right every
dag, make the world brighter. sweeter and stronger
by his presence and his memory destined 70 be a
permanent benediCton. and two lines IN the cor
umns Of deaths Will te the only journalistic euiogy
accorded him.
"A man and woman on the other hand may
never have been known 10 do anything that was
right, their may be expressive or onlE
what is ignominious and repUlsive. and yet entire
. ft.rIT LIST nd
demeanOT. here and elsewhere. are laid out BEFORE
The worlds eve for popular inspection -,
II am not saying This with the purpose or crltl-
rlSuc Perhaps. II I were managing a newspaper,
( would manage IL I'm that way. but the point from
which there IS such thing getting away IS
that such Journalism is not representative but mis-
representative II so emphasizes the abnormal that
the reading public comes TO believe that what IS
abnormal is really normal"
DIT. ParkhUrst closed by saying that he knew too
much about the evil existing in this city 70 deny
that 70 did exisc and thar thu only thing that gave
him courage TO deal with crime the knowledge
Of of good in the very heart Of the city, and
that IL the saints worked COucertedly the
sinners. the sinners would have show" This
emphasized he thought at the last election,
when the respectable element redeemed the state