Evening star., 1928-02-05

personal opinion into very great COM
mercial organization. II has become
much more important~-in fact, indis-
penSable-to the business enterprise OF
the country. but appears to have lost
very much OF its power as director
OF public thought. There are 90 many
other avenues OF information that peo-
pie are much less dependent than for
merly upon the press for their knovl-
edge OF men and of affairs.
Now that the transition has been
made through various cancellations
and through the elimination Of the un-
successful, the journalism Of the United
States has on the whole established IL
self according TO the new standards
upon a profitable financial basis. 1t
ought TO undertake TO recapture the
dominant position it formerly held az
distributor OF current information and
a director of public opinion 1t ought
to contest with our universities as an
influence for education and match the
pulpit in its support OF high moral
standards.
Opportunity Of Press.
In a republic the field which is open
/ to the press as an instrument Oh clean
! and sound government Is nmltless. IL
ought TO be the supporter OF efnclent
/ local administration and wise national
statesmanship In international affairs
! it should cooperate with its own gov
ernment and extend TO foreign inter
| ests a tolerant and sympathetic candor.
. Foreign interests have the privilege OF
/ being represented here. The right TO
/ fair treatment Is as wide as humanity.
/ But when foreign governments are rep
resented here. their agents are required
7 10 come publicly accredited and be puo-
/ hcly received. For generations our Law
! has forbidden our own citizens entering
/ into any negotiations With foreign
government concerning its relations
! with our own Government. Such ne2o-
/ tiations can only be carried on unocI
! the direction Of the President. Wnen-
| ever any OF the press Of our country
undertake to exert their influence in be-
half Of foreign interests, the candor OF
/ the situation would be greatly increased
/ II their foreign connections were pub
nclv disclosed All public business
ought to be publicly conducted.
! One of the strongest safeguards OF
/ the integrity OF Official action Is pub
iicity. This does not mean an espion-
age OF all personal and private action
OF Government officials, but 1t does
mean publicity concerning the dis
charge OF the duties which they have
chosen 10 perform. All those who
have interests which may be affected
] By governmental action should have
! the privilege O; employing representa- :
tives to present their cause and defend
/ their rights. Nobody questions this on
| the judicial side. but those who are 50
engaged are required 10 be licensed
and their appearance before such tri-
b,lnals Is a matter OF court record. As
/ in the case of the Federal Government,
those who are analogously employed N
/ legislative and departmental matters
are not required 10 make like dis
closure OF the interests which they IN
dertake TO serve. il IS necessary 70 de-
pend on the press for such information
! II is perhaps stating the obvious 10
saw that the press should be patriotic
/ This does not require any disparage-
nient OF the advantages which other
people enjoy in their own country.
Whatever II may be in some individual
cases, other countries are best adapted
| 10 the people as a whole who live there,
and our country is certainly the best
country for our people The freedom
enjoyed here, the institutions OF Sell
government the protection o! the in
/ dividual. the standards of living. the
comforts and even the luxurtes, the
unexampled progress n national de-
velopment and. in general. equal op-
, portuaity. not IN any narrow and lH-
/ tied sense but on both The material
and spiritual sides OF life. broad ano
unbounded-all these are s,ltAciert In
warrant the admiration and reverence
Of every informed mind
! Progress In Science.
! More progress has been made in this
country in scientific development II
the last $50 years than had been made
in all the world from the day OF Julius
Caesar TO George Washington. Our
successes have not betrayed our iucg-
ment or hardened our heart. In spite
Of sporadic outbreaks o: violence. one
Of our chief characteristics IS a pro-
found reverence for humanity. On our
record and or our prospects there :
every reason for an abiding faith IN OIL.
country.
While these considerations may well
be dwell, upon as jllS;ifyinS pride IN our
country. the reasons !or love OF country
appear TO lie deeper. Il can scarcely be
said that i; Is the people OF great and
powerful nations who have exhibited
the greatest attachment 10 the land OF
their birth Those who have originated
in countries tha; were small and inco0-
spicllo,ss and poor have rather been
marked by q devotion 10 the sou which
bred them above those Who we're reared
among more ariuens circumstances
Nevertheless. IL has been that strain.
UouriShed on The sentiment cf patriot