The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-21
MISSION OF PRESS
IS NOT FULFILLED
Should Elevate Public, Not Adj
vertise It's Degrade
ton.
PLEA FOR CLEAN NEWSPAPERS
Major j. c. Hcmphill Talks OF
Public and Press at Yale
University.

New Haven. Conn, April 2o--N1ajol
| j. c. Hemphill, editor of the Richmond
| Times Dispatch, made plea for clean
! In an address at Yale University to.
night. He was delivering the first
! lecture under the Bromley Foundation
| provided for by Mrs. Adelaide i,
| Bromley in memory of her husband
| lssac NJ Bromley, Yale '53. The sub
| ject of his lecture was. The Public
and the Press"
THE press, in these abundant
times said Major Hemphill. speak
ing generally, is in the business for
the money there is in 1t. The most
potent force in shaping and directing
the thought and sentiment of the
country, it is yet u beggar at the door
of patronage Little or no independ-
ence is actually possessed by the Jour-
nalists who preach independence. 1t
must be said, however to the credit or
discredit, as you please, of the public.
that 1T reflects largely the character
of the newspapers by which 1t is
served.
The yellow streak runs not less
through the press than through the
people. The shame of the press is
that it has catered to the worst ten
denotes of a corrupt and maladorous
age. It's mission ought to be the elc-
walton of the public. instead, 1t adj
vertises It's degradation; fairly shrek
ing against any restrictions upon its
liberty, it converts its liberty into Ii
conse.
Broadly speaking, the most sensa-
tional and irresponsible newspapers
make the most money, and there has
boon noted for years the gradual de-
graduation of the American press to
the American level. Some OF the clean
est and most self-respccting newspa-
pers are published in New England;
but even here tho tendency towards a
lower conception of journalism can
not have escaped the observation OF
those who are interested in the devel-
opment of our civilization.
The ideal newspaper does not eS-
list; 1t Is doubtful that 1t ever will
The newspapers of to-day, like the
churches, represent this or that view
of politics. this or that view OF indus
try or individual, or section; they pos
sess the enthusiasm of advocates, they
lack the wisdom of the judge.
There is no profession so eXactins.
none requiring so extensive and accu-
rate knowledge of history and philos-
ophy and political economy, none call
ing for SO great patience of opposl-
ton, such clearness and firmness OF
Judgment, such courage of conviction
and such careful regard for the rights
of others. That is why, in my opin-
ion, the newspaper should be, in fact
the Judge and Jury and not the swift
witness or the paid counsellor in the
case on trial, before the people.
There Is not an old man or a young
man in this audience who has ever
known the issues involved in a po>
lltical campaign to have been fairly
presented by the opposition press
That newspaper is unworthy which Aor
personal profit or political gain for 10
self or It's party misrepresents the po-
sition of professional or political RI
val; that follows any particular course
because 1t is popular: that joins in
the defamation of any man because
there is something to be made out of
1T, either in the way Of increased cir
culation or adventurous Importance.
what both newspaper makers and
newspaper readers most need, If they
would reach the best settlement of the
question in which they are interested,
is not party spirit or sectional fervor,
but broad tolerance of opinion and
speech