Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-22
PUBLIC AND THE PRESS.
Major Hemphil Makes Plea For Clean
er journalism.

New Haven, COnl., ApIll So'
Maj. j. c. Hemphill. editor Of the
Richmond Times Dispatch, made a
plea for cleaner journalism and clean
er newspapers in an address at Yale
university tonight. He was deliver
ing the first lecture under the Brom-
ley foundation, provided for by Mrs.
Adelaide E. Bromley in memory of
her husband, Isaac M. Bromley, Yale,
SO. The subject of his lecture was
THE Public and the Press"
THE press in these abundant times
said Major Hemphill, speaking gen.
orally, is in the business for the mo-
ney there is in it. The most potent
force in shaping and directing the
thought and sentiment OF the coun-
try, is yet beggar at the door of pa
tronage. Little or no independence
is actually possessed by the journal
lists who preach independence. 1t
must be said. however, to the credit
or discredt, as you please, of the pub
lie that it reflects largely the charac-
ter 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 il has catered to the worst
tendencies of a corrupt and malodrous
age. It's mission ought to be the ele-
vation of the public; instead, it ad-
vertises it's degradation: fairly Shrek
ing against any restriction upon its
liberty, it converts it's liberty into Ii
cense.
Broadly speaking, the most sensa-
tional and irresponsible newspapers
make the most money, and there has
been noted for years the gradual deg
radiation of the American press to
the American level. Some OF the
cleanest and most self-respectinS news
papers are published in New Eng
land: but even here the tendency to-
wards lower conception of journal
ism cannot have escaped the observa-
ton of those who are interested i'm the
development of our civilization.
"The ideal newspaper does not ex-
ist: it is doubtful that it ever will The
newspapers of today. like the
churches, represent this or that view
of political questions; this or that in
dustry or individual, or section; they
possess the enthusiasm Of advocates.
they lack the wisdom of the judge.
There is no profession so exacting,
none requiring so extensive and accu-
rate knowledge of history and philos-
ophy and political economy, none call
ing for so great patience of opposi-
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 young
man i'm this audience who has ever
known the issues involved in Il politi-
cal campaign to have been fairly pre-
sented by the opposition press. That
newspaper is unworthy which for
personal profit or political gain for it
self or its party misrepresents the
position of political rival; that fol-
lows any particular course because it
is "pOpular;" that joins in the defa-
nation OF any man because there is
something to be made out of it, eth
er in the way of increased circulation
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 inter-
ested, is not party spirit or sectional
fervor. but broad tolerance of opinion
and speech"