The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-28
g. J. GONZALEZ ON THE
PRESS AND ITS INFLUENCE

decide the question whether the peo-
PIE shall govern themselves or allow
themselves to be governed by q specific
class, 1t may not be out Of place to.
say something concerning the force
and bearing that newspapers are
thought or supposed to have upon pub
lie policies.
There is a false idea pervading the
minds Of our adversaries regarding
their influence in directing the people
In their public political acts and
policies. They consider that inasmuch
as our two papers here have espoused
their cause. their success is assured,
and that by coming to their rescue,
the voters will fall into line, and
hamper themselves with a government
better adapted to a Hottentot or Fiji
PING than an intelligent. civilized COM
munity.
There was a. time when a newspaper
acted as guide, and had its infiu-
ence as an auxiliary in directing pub
lie affairs, but today things have
changed and are entirely different
With the wonderful improvements
made in all the arts and sciences; the
advent Of public schools; the easy &C
cess to good literature; the accumula-
ton of facts; the evidence of ages; the
leisure afforded by shortening the
hours of labor have produced an in
dependent thought in the minds OF
the iaborer and individual, that no
modern paper can influence or destroy.
Hence, the individual Of this hour is a
profound thinker, he Is as astute or
dexterous in analyzing moral or po-
liticai issue as any lawyer or theolo-
giarl. He may not be able to express
his power of thought with the same
beauty of style and refinement of
scholar, or one versed in the art Of
composition, but, crude as his thought
might be, he is certain to arrive at
conclusion with as much precision and
accuracy as the most accomplished
writer or editor. AS a bearer Of news
and daily events, a medium of adver-
Using. 1t fills its Office satisfactorily,
but upon issues vital to the interest Of
the people both political and moral, 1t
takes place secondary to the will
and judgment of the people, and be-
comes a nonentity.
And what, after all, are the views
and opinions of an editor? Are they
| any more definite or valid than the
opinion Of any other Individual? We
have seen men in the most humble
walks Of life and obscure notoriety
give a sounder and more correct
opinion upon subjects of Importance
than any newspaper man disciplined
| in the arts of literature and philoso-
ply.
A few years ago, measure was
brought forward. an election was held
to make a certain amendment a part
Of our organic law. Nearly every pa
per in the state advocated its adoption
and favored the movement, but was
| defeated by 1.-The good sense and judS-
| ment of the people. Prior to this. a
| measure similar was tried in our city,
with both napers embracing the cause,
but met the same fate at the hands Of
the voters.
Hence, the newspaper is not the
great motive power that our adver-
| sa ries imagine 1t to be, and instead of
guiding the people, are guided by
them, and frequently make mistake
in feeling the pulse of the masses, and
| get on the wrong side and repent at
| leisure.
No. my dear advocate of the Semmes
charter, do not allow yourself to be
| deceived, do not place or stake your
hopes upon what you conceive to be
the influence of the press; do not trust
o. confide your cause entirely to their
keeping, but rely upon principle to ac-
complish your purpose, and do not feel
secure or presume upoa the ignorance
| of the voter or the imaginary force of
the newspapers to carry a charter
which deprives a man Of the right to
a free and untramelled government.
/ Again, supposing a paper does lean
4 tKayxT fIsr mr. Ieafn Gov. katv
Is it-any evidence that the cause is
right or founded upon Just principles
Not at all. 1t may be taken as an
act Of sincerity on the part Of the
manager or editor, but is no evidence
that the cause is right.
A Brahmin of India throws himself
| under the car Of Juggenaut; he allows
himself to die a martyr for his faith
and in the cause Of his religion; is
such an act any proof that his re-
ligion contains a grain of truth? Not
al all; 1t simply proves a Jealous sin
certify OF conscience, and believes 1t
secures his future safety.
The English parliament, together
with the Engli. press, were sincere i'll
believing that the colonies should re-
main loyal to the English crown, still
their position was entirely wrong. The
i slave holder was hSnest and sincere in
believing the institution Of slavery was
just and right, yet all men agree that
slavery was wrong. A man suffering
or dying for a certain cause does not
prove the cause to be right, but proves
TIE sincerity of the man in thinking it
right.
We hope that the working man. the
artisan and mechanic, will not permit
the presumptive arrogancs of class
who are seeking control Of affairs, to
smirch their intelligence by claiming
a superiority which they do not pos
sess by suggesting what path they
should follow, but give them to under
stand that their independent thought
and action are equal to theirs, and
will exercise their free will in giving
preference to whichever charter they
II see fit.
II : We will not comment upon Mr..
Senmes's charter as its length and
ambiguity forbid IL We will refer the
voter to sections IL, Is and % and ask
him IL he can lay his hands upon his
heart and support charter with such
diseased parts and which deprives him
III ~ pfe saA -, haA