Year: 1876

been such that nine-tenths of the things peO-
pie really care about and live for are scarcely
ever touched at all by the words they hear
from the minister on Sunday. We believe
that great reform is to come about III this
respect. But our present consideration is OF
things as they are.


The newspaper makes 1t its business to ma
ont what people are interested in and to give
them just that. SO the newspaper, in its best
and typical examples, is maryelously broad IN Its
range 1t deals with politics, commerce, social
affairs, the news OF the whole world; 1t gives
facts and opinions and fun; it gives religious
news as well rs secular; the last vote in Con-
gress, the last great Grafton, BsmarcSs latest
move against the Pope, Moody's meetings, the
weather probabilities, the new books, the
crimes, the accidents, the jOkes-everything
that people want to hear about Is there. And
the consequence is, the whole American people
reaches for its newspaper in the morning with
an eagerness such as, it is to be feared, only
a very few of the saints feel toward their
church privileges.


That man knows little of human nature who
does not see that a tremendous influence upon
life and conduct and character is welded by
this great talker to whom everybody listens.
And, further, it is not news alone for which
people go to their newspapers; it Is opinions
and convictions. Very few people have energy
enough to make up their own minds on many
subjects outside of their personal affairs.
Most men are glad to take their opinions ready
made from the editor OF their iavOritc paper;
or oftener they do take them from bm with
out knowing it. Ask each of the men who
come off a morning train into New York what
is his opinion on the principal event OF the day
before, and if you know beforehand what is III
the papers, you can generally tell by his answer
whether he takes THE TRIBUNE, WOrld or
HcraH. And the same authority has an influ-
ence which probably the man himself does not
suspect in deciding not only what ticket he
votes but what books he buys, what lectures
or PLAYS he attends, what opinion he holds OF
public men; in shaping much of the general
course of his thought and feeling and action


In one respect, indeed, the newspaper press
is at a great disadvantage in comparison with
the ministry. The governing motive that
sends most men INTO the ministry--maklng all
allowance for lower rcaSons-is, probably. a
deliberate purpose to labor for the moral ele-
walton of men. That is what cnnobles the
ministry as a class what makes it, in spite OF
all defects in its methods, the most hOnOred pro-
fession in our American communities. But
there is every reason why men should enter
journalism with the same lofty and disinter-
ested spirit it offers to a hgh-minded and
earnest man, who has sufficient ability and
education to qualify him for superior class
of work, an unequaled opportunity for useful
ness. 1t is not an easy or remuneratlYe pro-
fession. No class of brain workers, as class,
have such severe, continuous, and exhaustive
labor as journalists Their pay is very poor
in comparison with that OF other edu-
Gated workers. The profession does not,
as rule offer stability of position
there is no such security as belongs
to a physician, or a lawyer who has surrounded
himself with clients, or a clergyman whose
congregation are attached to him. An en-
trance even into the lower ranks OF the pro-
fession is to be had usually only with good
deal of seeking and waiting. Personal fame
is very rarely to be won in it. But, with these
and other drawbacks, the Journalists position
has that advantage which to a strong man is
generally more attractive than any Other-lt
carries po,ccr with it. 1t far outranks any other
place in modern society in the facilities Tor
molding and leading men which 1t offers TO
the vigorous, courageous, and resolute thinker.
The pulpit has still noble work; the pieacher
and pastor can never he rvaed or superseded
for certain great purposes; but III our day,
The highest place of power for any one who
seeks to reach men in the mass, and help
them into right ways of thought and life, Is
offered by the newspaper