Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-27

SoAtflpheeo W ~ - AeyeNs
Conspicuous amongst the questions Of
the day Is, What has caused the more
or less predominant prO-British. OF anti
German sentiment in the United states
and why are many prominent dailies and
weeklies persistently and systematically
promoting the same by magnifying every
event favorable to the allies and unfav-
orable to the Germans, and by ignoring
or minimizing everything that is unfav-
able to the allies and favorable to the
Germans7" The principal reason can no
doubt be traced 20 the fact that high
finance in the United States is so closely
allied with high finance in England,
financial and commercial interests and
obligations being so closely interviewer
as to be akin to business partnership.
which would make II seem perfectly
natural that such interests make their
influence felt here in the creation OF
o-Britlsh sentiment. Nor is Il surpris-
ing that certain publishers make capital
out OF these conditions Take. for in
stance, Life: II Is understood by but a
few that that weekly land no doubt
there are many others in the same class)
has a large Canadian and other foreign
circulation. Not less than 10 per cent Of
fits regular subscribers are In Canada,
who would Immediately cancel their sub
scriptions n It published anything the
least unfavorable TO the British cause.
Life makes a special bid for subscrip-
lions in Great Britain. Canada and the
British possessions, maintaining an office
In tho Dreams building In London. and
such foreign circulation has no doubt
been doubled since the war. For another
instance. take The Philistine and Ebert
Hubbards nquseating tirade on Bm-
peror wIlIiani, entitled. who Lifted tho
Lid off Of Hell?' which. though some
thing like the foul breath Of sewer. he
advertises extensively at sos per LOO
copies, and no doubt finds many buyers,
The prime motive lie the dollar.
In another class stands the editor OF the
"courier-Journal." and old time Ken
lucky fire eater and ex-rebel, who, fifty
years ago. no doubt as freely used his
aituperative vocabulary against Abraham
Lincoln as no now does against the Ger
mans. and all because England was the
staunch friend and supporter OF the con-
federacy.
These circumstances. however. are but
side light on yellow journalism in the
United States, and have nothing to do
with the causes of the war. IL is the
advent OF yellow Journalism in England
that / wish to dwell upon.
Up TO the end OF the Victorian period
the English press decently reflected the
good qualities of the English people
(Which they still possess) and ever
though papers like the "Tlmes" were
not particularly German friendly. Il
vouohsafed them honorable and gentle
manly treatment
During the latter half OF the CO.'S how.
ever. by the coming OF Alfred Harms
worth, the smart young man." yellow
journalism was launched upon It's pros
porous career with the birth OF the
Daily Mall"
At first the older respectable papers
looked askance upon this new departur,
as an adventurous publication, edited on
the plan OF the yellow press In the United
States. for which they prophesied an
early failure. Londoners bought this
first half-penny sheet more as curl
osity first denounclng. then rldiculinl
It's contents, but eventually they becom,
accustomed 10 its character, and that
meant success for the Daily Mall"
While tho opposition press did not fat
70 point out the low quality OF this new
competitor, ami denounced It's sensa-
tional and fake news, they cound not pre-.
vent this new and degrading style Of