The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-23
Journalism A
Profession
of Service
David Monahan, in Bar
mum Essay Describes
Possibilities of Profess
sion to Render Activ-
ity.
BY DAVID MoNAHAN.

BY DAVID MONAHAN.
But for the fallibility of the nature
would make world like unto
heaven and reduce human anx!eties
and misfortunes till they would as
sumo trifling proportions. Ana what
impulse Of the heart which changes
the nature Of man. lifts him up above
the common flight of this "workeday
world; 1t Is that which gives as
ure is bringing Joy to others. He who
loves shall serve. Serving with love
as the motive is. then. following out
the divine law the observance OF
living service should be one Of the
prime impelling motives Of a life well
lived. it but naturally follows that
the occupation of q person, which
fort and Concentration during his
lifetime. should be chosen with the
greatest constd Grafton for the oppor-
tuntty for service involved.
What profession then Is more preg-
nant with possibilities for service
than Journalism which makes, leads
and sways public opinion, Influences.
directs, and stimulates activity for
good government?
From the birth of Journalism to
the time Of the invention Of the enor-
nous printing presses, the linotype
machine, we'll as the advanced
"
newspaper endeavor has welded the
most tremendous power Of any force
employed to mould and influence
public opinion. 1t has overthrown
against the welfare of the people,
pointed out the causes of existing
evils and destroyed them. in short.
promoted and effected changes in the
old order for tho benefit of mankind.
Need for service in the realm of poll
tics however, has not been exhaust ed.
There will always be great need as
! long as human. seit-wilied man is
prone to evil and governments con-
tinue to lack perfection.
The journalists first notable SER
vice to the word was realized even
when there was but the insignificant
seed of a growing profession, a>pro.
fession to play a distinguished part
in the history Of human events.
Men in obedience to the laws of
God are compelled - form associa-
tons for mutual welfare. No group
of people ever thinks as unit, or at
all. when they partake in no govern
ment and have no lenders. The peo-
pie Of most of Europe were in such
and early eighteenth centuries. All
governments were in the hands Of
kings. chosen by God" to rule their
coup tries, who. with their 1avorites,
squeezed the life blood from their
poor. helpless subjects. And what
power could save these people from
their degradation in serfdom in,pos-
ed by relentless master?
The influence of education had ITS
effect on the minds of the poopie and
leaders Of thought The world gave
birth to thinkers who challenged the
inequality of the existing system and
dreamt OF a Utopia. But these ideas
of Individual thinkers, In themselves
worthless. were of value in only SO
much as they could be communicated
to the common people. These rero-
lutionists Of thought found two
methods Of distributing their ideas,
the method Of speech and the method
of writing. They found by far the
most successful Sand far-reachtng
method to be through the power OF
the written word. the medium of
Journalism. Pamphlets were issued,
readers were stirred. governments
were changed and the serf became
by gradual reforms a sharer in the
government which ruled him. Were
not these men true journalists of the
nobleSt type.
The achievement of this share in
the government for the psople was
but the first move up the hill Of 40
complishment Encouraged In hav-
ing obtained their first objective, men
Strove with renewed vigor to over
come the oppression Of kingly rule.
Louis Blanc. illustrtous Partisan Jour
nalist, and strong advocate of Social
workshop" even Cavour, the most
powerful single factor in the untfica-
ton of Italy; Louis Kossuth, eloquent
Hungarian orator, who accomplished
the downfall of Matterntch and the
ascendency of liberal government, in
Austria-Hungary; even Carl Marx.
possessed such great influence among
the people that he was banished from
three countries during his lifetime;
these men and their lesser contem-
poraries in the journalistic field
welded an inestimable force for the
attainment of the second move of the
progressive evolution for the better
government of mankind. namely the
essablishme of republics in the vari-
Gus countries of Europe. Was not
this indeed a great service? These
men directed their entire lives trying
to better the conditions Of their fell
low men through the medium of
gain but the happiness which only
unselfish service can obtain. No
greater love is there than this.
Coming to the attainment of Amer
examples in which men have served
their country and their compatriots. |
Who can measure the achievements.
his influence over the people
of Benjamin Franklin, illustrious ed
itor of revolutionary days and the
one who penned that convincing
phrase. I'VE must all hang together
or we shall all hang separately" |
4
Journalist of American, idealist. man |
of courageous heart, who moved the |
people to admiration by his fearless |
character. Greeley ever caused pull |
sations of public opinion but his own |
actions were never Influenced by 9TH
er motives than a love OF righteous |
ness and steadfast honor. With Will |
Fam Lloyd Garrison. that journalist of |
journalists. he stood firm for the |
emancipat ton Of the slaves, the pre- |
servation of the Union, and a con- |
attitude toward the stricken |
Southern States.
The newspaper reporter. through |
his intimate association with all types !
and classes OF people, has always |
been peculiarly able to realize the |
great difference which exists between
tn standards of living of the wealthy |
and the INDECENT. What more hu-
name and loving social service can
be performed than that of Jacob A |
Rifs. who although a Danish immi- |
grant. proved himself an American |
after the definition of a true Ameri- |