The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-27

influence Ia gone. the opinions of men
are still affected by the news columns;
II, however, they become convinced
that the whole tone of the paper is
unfair. then It's power will have de-
parted
But, after all. the finest character
tsfic of the periodic press IL its dell
cate sensitiveness to the needs and
moods of men IT Ia the best mouth
piece ever devised for the cause OF
the average man, 1t brings govern
ment and all the machinery Of or
ganixed society straight home to the
business and bosoms of men. II is
essentially against caste and privilege
Of every kind. without IT, Democracy
as we know IL and the wide-open
door OF opportunity for every man
could not have arisen In the world.
This concern for the average man.
this electric sympathy or social feel
ing In the glory OF the newspaper.
But IT, too. has this defects of Its
virtue. To serve the people IL one
thing, to he subservient to them Ia
quite another thing, Progress liz never
blind and inevitable onward move
menf II is always the result Of in
fort. This nation needs In its news
paper one quality that Is too seldom
found In aihem--the capacity for in
dependent and fearless leadership.
which always precludes the pnssibii-
ty of following the multitude TO do
wrong, One result or the fine com
munity OF feeling. the nationwide.
even world wide. thinking In chorus
which the newspaper itself has large
ly created. Ia the susceptibility 10
periodic attacks of sectional or at
times national Mysteries, Against
the temporary intellectual confusions
and the surging passions Of the hour
the brave newspapers would stand
aS a Variable huiwark Of strength
and safety.
Every forward movement In a de-
mocracy is the result Of striking An
average of the intelligence and moral
enlightenment of all the people, and
this mass Judgment will in the long
run nearly always prove TO be sound;
but II Ia often temporarily wide of
the truth. II sometimes does grow
injustice to good causes and misun-
derstood men. Wounded. IL hits out
In the dark. then II becomes mere
mob opinion. And the mob has al
ways loved a seape-goat. The hound
ing OF individuals by newspapers.
with which We are all familiar. Is
officially of a piece with that blood
Thirsty demand for victim. guilty or
innocent 1t was no matter, which Was
so often a part of the wild scenes In
the Colosseum OF the decadent Ro-
man empire, or at the more ancient
festivals OF all primitive peoples. This
last exquisite torture of civilization.
like the old barbaric custom. bears
evidence to the inherent cruelty OF
mankind. Such persecution Is not
wrong because IL Is cruel. II liz cruel
because II Ii wrong. Much of this
man batting Ina our time has grown
out nf the hot conflict that has ragged
between great wealth and extreme
poverty. In 30 far as it speaks for
the helpless IL In praiseworthy In It's
Intentions. but In its bald unfairness
and inhaman cruelty II is Disgrace
I 10 our civilization and a menace to-
our future welfare.
or Decreasing Iniiuencss.
This kind OF newspaper, now OF de-
ereaslng influence in America | am
please 90 believe. Ia porfentous re-
fnindsr 10 nae of what Burke wrote
concerning the man OF letters OF the
time OF the revolution In France
'sThass writer's he said, like the
propAtors az all aaveitiss. pretended
to great zeal for the poor and lower
orders whilst IA their xssttrea thsy
rendered hateful ny every ~xaswuras
tian. the faults ef courts Of nobility.
Of priesthood, They became a SORT ps
demagoku~s. They served ~ q link
/ 10 unite. In favar OF enc object OBJ
nossous wealth and desperate power
~" such an attitude uf mlad On
the part of its intellectual leaders
led IN France, az always and every.
where. not to wholesome reform and
EupbuiIdInE. hut To Wholesale revoiu@
ton and destruction tsut \ have the
faith 10 believe that American pee
| pls are too Wise and tou coed long 10
he carried AWAY by shis sort ~ i@@A~
nrShirs What u noxAIiy wrong nsMs~,
papers will In the end and "a he i'm
expedtent and unpxofifAhis.
| by widely disssntns ting. useful and
Itrumtwerthy information. Nv constant
adYccass al tire causes Of msns hy
keeping cicss tn tho great heart III
| mAnkinds ~ living devoid " msAa