Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/389

 THE PRESS AND PUBLIC OPINION 375

Does the editor or his subordinate staff ever hesitate to attack, judge, and correct anybody ? Is there a question in science, religion, ethics, economies, politics, that the editor cannot dis- cuss at an hour's notice ? Authority is something totally unknown to the newspaper. The editorial "we" is above all. The editor is glad to have the support of authority, but he is not daunted or disturbed at finding recognized authority against his position. The mature opinions of scholars and experts he treats with a flippancy and contempt which the slightest degree of responsibility would render impossible. But the editor is irre- sponsible. The judicious and competent few may laugh at his ignorance and presumption, but the cheap applause of the many who mistake smartness for wit and loud assertion for knowledge affords abundant compensation. Controversy with an editor is a blunder. He always has the last word, and his space is unlimited. He is an adept at dust-throwing, question-begging, and confusing the issue. In private life he may be intellectually and morally insignificant, but his readers are imposed upon by the air of infallibility with which he treats all things, and the assurance with which he assails those who have the audacity to disagree with him. The average newspaper reader easily yields to iteration and bombast. He believes that which is said daily in print by the august and mysterious power behind the editorial "we." His sentiments and notions are formed for him by that power, and he is not even conscious of the fact.

If editors were well-informed, competent, and conscientious, what a magnificent opportunity theirs would be ! What are all the schools and educational systems of the world beside the daily newspaper — the recorder and critic of every important act and utterance of civilized humanity ? The newspaper over- shadows every other educational agency. The lecture-room, the pulpit, the public meeting, the pamphlet, the book, what is their influence as compared with that of the daily press ? If the editors always knew what righteousness and justice demanded, and were always ready to act upon this knowledge, our rate of progress toward a reign of equity and reason would be amazing. But when we remember that editorial comments and arguments are