Monroe City Democrat., 1908-10-08
COUNTRY PRESS The
REAL EDUCATOR.
Charles W. Knapp Exploits Its
Value in Matters of Public
Policy, Particularly in
Political Campaigns.

stimulating enthusiasm Whlch mas cnar-
acterized their meeting today Is encour-
aging augury Of coming victory. It fore
shadows a great Democratic triumph
for Missouri in the November election
Omitted and aggressive, the Democrat
ic press of Missouri fitingly typifies the
militant party. for which it speaks. Its
own unity and accord certify to the spirit
of harmony which has brought all rae
tions back into one fold, harmony no
internal dissensions disturbs, and, they
confirm the confidence which a clean past
record and a progressive future policy
inspire in the heart Of every Democrat.
1 appreciate the opportunity am anord-
ed, therefore, to congratulate my CO
workers>in a great cause on the splendid
ticket and the admirable platform We
are privileged to present to the voters OF
Missouri in this campaign.
UNITED MILITANT DEMOCRACY.
"The high personal character. the
burdened humanity, the sincere and ar
dent patriotism of the great leader to
whom we have given our presidential
nomination for the third time, no friend
will dare impeach. It is true, we have
had our differences in the past, differ
ences over economic issues which have
estranged some Democrats, but these
differences are now buried, and the DEM
ocratic party is again united, with its
Parker, its Oiney, its Francis, its Wat
terson and other leaders who were alien
ated a dozen years ago now earnest and
enthusiastic supporters of the great
Commoner of Nebraska. These condi-
tions, gentlemen, justify US in recalling
the significant fact that Democracy
united and harmonious has never yet
been beaten.
'The fight in Missouri this year is on
lines that should arouse the enthusiasm
and stir the energy Of every Democratic
editor. The issues invite the active in
who feels the fervor of the true Demo-
cratic spirit Missouri is battling to hold
its own this year on a record that in it
self constitutes the issues of the cam
paign. For that record of efficient public
service no Democrat need offer explana-
ton or make apology.
POWER OF THE PRESS.
'It is not from the impassioned lips Of
the distinguished speakers, whose elo-
quence will draw crowds to the hustings,
that the citizens Of Missouri will most
certainly gather correct understanding of
what Democracy has done for their State,
and, what its continuance in power Will
assure In the future. That story can be
told best by the Democratic press, and
the editor, far more certainly than the
orator, can inform and convince the
vloter. In every campaign of education
the burden of the work falls to the
press,s and 1t is SO in this campaign of
papers must instruct the people about
the honest and faithful service of their
party, about its high aims and laudable
purposes.
with the Republican party conducting
campaign Of cant and hypocrisy, with
it's candidates committed to a programme
of pretense and dissimulation, the DEM
ocratic newspaper has an exceptional op-
portunity for aggressive journalism. 1t
Is an opportunity that particularly calls
for vigorous work by what we are in the
habit of terming the country press the
daily of the smaller towns and the coun-
direct these papers, the men who sit
about these tables tonight, are accom-
plished, brilliant and courageous. OF
course, the metropolitan daily can give
help, and The Republic, sending more
than three-quarters of a million copies
of its various editions to Missouri read
ers every week VIII strive nard 70 90 US
share of the work But after all is
said the great responsibility rests on the
country press.
DEMOCRATIC EDITORS ARE FIGHT
ERs.
mo one who is acquainted with the
Democratic press OF Missouri, no one
this State, will doubt for a moment their
ability or their willingness to fully meet
all their responsibilities, No state in the
Union can show such a list Of fighting
eOltofS as In6 roster Oh lHtS aSSOcldllOu
will disclose, and when the returns are
counted in November 1t will be found
Missouris Democratic editors have done
their political fighting to good purpose.
"But there is another and a higher OBJ
legation which every self-respecting editor
will place above his political responsible
ty. It is the obligation Of public duty,
which must always rank above the de-
mands or partisianship. It Is the obliga-
ton which rises on the call Of conscience,
an obligation which every worker for
the press. be he editor or reporter, must
recognize as the paramount law. No
measure Of political zeal should ever
lead either reporter or editor to forget
his moral scruples, and the newspaper in
which the reign of conscience is always
evident is, of necessity, the true exem-
plar of the real nobility OF Journalism
MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD.
politics within the lines of truth, to fear
lessly attack evil no matter what party
mask It may hide behind, to uphold the
law whether its enforcement means en-
barrassment or advantage in our politi-
cal alliances. These standards faithfully
preserved, the highest reward that can
come to a newspaper from a political
victory Is assured. 1t is the strengthened
confidence of subscribers who respect,
even when they disagree with, the news
paper they read.
.FIn this spirit let US unite, fellow
Democrats, to give Bryan and Kern,
Cowherd and Painter, with their associ-
ates on our ticket, an old-time Missouri
majority. Let US exhaust every energy
we can command, exert our best en-
deavors, to make the victory OF 1903
monument to the vigorous aggressiveness
Of Missouri's splendid Democratic press.