The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-10-23

| The following splendid address of
Archbishop Christie comes to us "y
way of Manila, p. l. Though rather
late for reproduction it is worth real
ing:
| We need not emphasize the obvious
fact that in our day the press is u
mighty power for both good and evil.
The ability to read Is nowadays Il
general accomplishment, and every
one who has interests to further rr
theories to proclaim invariably en-
ploys the services of the printer. Pub
lie opinion upon all matters of i'm
portance is formed and controlled pN
the press. Ideas, personalities and
institutions are regarded with favor
or otherwise by the masses of the pe.,-
pie. largely by reason of what they
read. UnconsciouslN readers adopt
the mental attitude the prejudces and
the predictions of their favorte
paper. There is Il peculiar impressive
ness about the printed word for most
people and it is easier to adopt the
viewpoint and opinions of an engas-
ing and plausible writer than to 50
through the mental labor of eXamin-
ing reasons and testing conclusions.
Hence it is that Catholics are certain
to he msled in matters of supreme i'm
portance unless they support and util-
fze a vigorous journal rooted in sound
principles which may be to them both
school OF instruction and IA weapon
> OF defense.
The government of the country
our physical wellbeing in cnacting
+ rigorous Pure Food laws and making
+ them operative There is no dou5t
, that the health Of the people is kept
at higher level as a result of such
salutary vigilance. The pity is that
= we are imposing no Pure Food laws on
the press. In other days when thc"n
was less irresponsible individuais:n
G rampant and men were generally
t agreed as to moral principles anl
y their definite application, an authors
product did not easily get printed UNI
t less it was mentally and morally
: wholesome. Nowadays the liberty oi
the press might be more Justly term
e ed the license Of the press. for pub
e fishers are circulating papers aid
d periodicals that seem born OF iniquitv
e so pernicious are the false doctrines
8 they proclaim. IT is difficult for a cul-
e tivated Catholic to pick up Il paper o:
y periodical emanating from the secular
a press in which nothing offensive te
y his conscientious convictions will b:
: found. This does not argue that tn:
" Catholic reader is too exacting for Or.
II binary human journalism, but it does
II evidence the fact that modern jour
q nalism is alien to the spirit of Chris
and has drifted far from those prin'
= ciples which are the necessary grount
II work Of correct thinking and virtuou'
10 living. ...
. It is the mission of the Catholic
:, paper to offset the dangerous litcr"1
=, ture of the day by supplying Catholic
:. with wholesome reading. We wish ou
!, growing children who will be tn
il, mothers and fathers of the country
&, few years hence to find their pleas
! ure and instruction in literary occupa.
ton which will enforce those lesson
,e of faith and duty which their Churcl
- is at such pains to teach them. w
~ wish them to be strengthened In thel
q faith, rooted more deeply in its prin
IL ciples, competent to expound their re-
NJ ligion to the interested inquirer and,
ct need be, defend it worthily against a
of adversary. There is always niue
~ Misrepresentation of Catholic teach
a ing and Catholic purposes; some of
I'd notwithstanding an admirable disposi
icl ton on the part of many of our lead
". ing dailies to be high minded and i'm
I'd partial. 1t is the Office of the Catho
al lie editor to expose the mistakes {
a. an erring press and make the trut
al stand forth. A Catholic paper make
m useful knowledge accessible. For
small price, 1t gives US an abundant