Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-08-02

,
erroneous opinion that tho world n
full OF crime and 10 simply kept under
control by force. Thirdly, the great
haste with which news II published.
In view Of rival papers, leads to =
good deal OF inaccuracy, and the read.
or has very bad account Of the real
events. Fourthly, the announcements
very frequently do not correspond to
facts. They are inventions" We will
close this quotation with the thought
expressed by Mr.. Fried in his next
paragraph: Hence the press that
needs sensation AZ q condition OF ito
existence has no interest In serving
the cause OF peace. 1t has all the
more interest in intiaming the people
against each other, The speakers
illusions here pertained to the Inter
national peace. but no person &C
quanted with the American press can
fall to see the full effects OF those
truthful words.
Our sole reference has been to the
avaricious, merciless. secular press.
As its mission Is materialistic rather
than moralistic, and since material
possessions do not necessarily pro-
ducs greatness OF spirit. the secular
press does not civilize the people IN
the true sense. We concur with Mr..
Fried where he says. the action OF
civilization Il "slow and silent" This
Is true II the forces OF nature them
selves count anything. The coal fields
of Pennsylvania, the gold mines OF
California, the diamond beds OF the
Dakotas, each and all are exemplihcs-
lions of this .slow and silent" Idea
OF forces. The idea Of exclusiveness
stands out plainly In secular Journal
ism. 1t was said by one Of old. ye
cannot serve God and mammon. So
with the modern news.monger. he can
not 70 fast" and make character;
his one ambition II to make money;
hence, he goes "fast" and misreprs-
sents. ~
Let us not despair. dear reader,
there IL a mighty army in the world
whose movements upon the mind are
as SLOW" and silent" as the forces
alluded to above. Like the monster
icebergs that imperceptibly pillow
their way through ocean currents.
they are destined to break to frag.
ments the convictions of false pilots.
What II 1t takes q thousand years?
VIII it all not serve to magnify the
name of our God? Where In all Chris
tendon today can you find one be-
lever that does not enjoy reading or
Belshazzar and the means Of his over
throw?
Our optimism leads US to believe
that as generations come and 60, the
Almighty's influence will so modify
the temper OF the times that the same
press that is now working mischief
will set type to print and disseminate
spiritual food Of. the highest quality.
Some wise one of spiritual vision said
not long ago that ours is an age OF
prophetic fulfllment. He said Christ
came as an embodiment of all that
spiritually concerns us. Now, he says,
the railway car is the chariot and the
electric telegraph and the telephone
are prophetic visions of preceding
ages. If that be true the prophets
saw the humble efforts Of journalism
which began among the Chinese early
in the tenth century "a. d. $3.50 and
has developed into presses sending
forth thousands of sheets per hour
Then turned and lifted up mine
eyes, and looked and behold hyins
roll. ). !. Then said he unto me. this
Is the curse that goeth forth over the
face of the whole earth" Czech. 81
81 Parallel to this another prophet
wrote: "And when looked behold a
hand was sent unto me, and 10, a
roll of q book was therein and 1t
was written within and without: and
there was written therein lamenta.
tons and MORNINGS and woe" (Ezek.
SO. 10.)
We are not In position to say
whether a scene of twenty centuries
after Christ fitted before the spiritual
gaze of these holy men or not. But,
most surely. some Of their statements
correspond with existing facts and
conditions of our day. "a The morn
ing and evening papers do go flying
to the habitats of civilization in the
flying machine of the iron rail. (2)
Their message does consist Of ia
mentations," MORNINGS" and WOE.
No wonder the other prophet has told
that "this Is the curse that goeth forth
over the face Of the whole earth"
II the wisdom Of antiquity did espy
this day, it does not imply that there
will be. an incessant reign OF condi'
lions. The trend of events in all his
tory justifies this conclusion. Christ
told his pupils of time Of persecu'
ton because Of belief in him, but ex.
horted them to stand fast. To-day
there is hardly case Of religious per.
secution, except in the abstract sense.
It seems natural for great gifts to re-
ceive abusegAt the first hands Of hui
Human speech has been made to
develop for divine intent, SO can it be
said that Zechariah's flying rolf (the
newspapsr) has such intent. since 1t
Is a popular vehicle in which loaded
thought-shells (words and sentences)
ride. That It will finally rebound to
tho glory OF God il made evident in
these words: 1.-THE Lord gave the
word: great was the company Of those
that published It." FPS. 6S:11.) ~
Hence, It II shown that the news.
paper occupies pre-eminent posi-.
ton az 1 civilizing agency, but It "a
handicapped BY those seeking selfish
interests, actuated by vicious i'm
pulses. The voice Of Christianity will