As we take a retrospect of the whole history of Catholic journalism we are confronted with the ever-recurring due in large meas ure to a lack of patronage. From this observa tion we are led to inquire why Catholics have not more generously supported the Catholic newspaper. The reason is not far to seek, for the Catholic laity in the past has not been a reading people. There are two elements neces sary for the cultivation of enlightened expres sion on problems of the day. First, we must have a thinking people to create sound opinion. Secondly, we must have a means of dissemi nating it among others. There are leaders in all communities who must be moulders of the best thought. There are also master minds who must analyze it and separate the gold from the dross. With no man thinking or leading, generations creep their course and die. One of the ideals, therefore, of Catholic journalism is to develop the Catholic mind along ,correct principles. The Catholic press is needed to -defendthe right, to advance the truth, to main tain order, morality, intelligence and culture among the adherents of the Church. There is no reason in the world why this high moral and intellectual tone cannot be developed to its full est in Catholic journalism. The production of genuine Catholic taste and genius is even more possible now than it ever was in the past. Spiritual indolence, mental inertia and indiffer ence are the only obstacles to its success. It was the journalistic genius of John Boyle O'Reilly that made the Boston Pilot in •his clay the greiatest Catholic newspaper in America. It was the classic style and polished diction of Bishop England that perplexed his most clever antagonists and compelled them at the end of their controversies with him to admire his can dor, his matchless courage, his firmness and gentleness of character. It was the persuasive ness and mental acuteness in the writings of Archbishop Hughes that vanquished the yellow journalists of his time and covered them with shame and confusion. It was the keen and analytic mind of Orestes A. Brownson, the philosopher, that commanded the spontaneous respect of the intellectual leaders of his age. But the Catholic press, through the prestige of such thinkers as these, has even a broader aim. It would have its ethical influence extended to and absorbed by American journalism in gen eral. History has taught that public morality is a condition to any national life. When a nation ceases to esteem and practise the virtues of truthfulness, honesty and justice, it does not deserve to live. Our government requires a higher plane of public morality than dogs despotism or monarchy. It is, within our means to make a success of popular govern ment by formulating principles which regen erate and strengthen the body of ethical truth by the development of correct sentiments in the press. In this effort the thinking people of the Catholic Church, the most powerful numeri in the United States, can exercise a tre mendous influence through the service of the Catholic newspaper as a directing force. Very many people get firm convictions by habitually reading a certain journal. Great then is the moral influence of the press for or evil. Our modern life mirrors the journal more effectively than news columns reflect life. This is no place for an indictment of the daily press. It is sufficient to say that our metropolitan newspapers of to-day devote over half of their first page to scandals, suicides, divorce pro ceedings, robberies, murders and other abomi nable social barbarities. If this is evidence of
the moral decadence of our democracy, ,then there is a clear duty for all of us. The failures we see on every side are due largely to the fact that few think pf their vocation as being valu ble chiefly as the means of mental and moral improvement. We would remind the journalist that his office is one of public trust.' His moral mission in society is to instruct or direct the masses, but to accomplish this he must practise and pursue a sound moral policy. We ask for editors strong, upright men, whose very utter ance is the touchstone of a moral mind.
Here, then, is our ideal. We know that in the past men like John Boyle O'Reilly, Bishop England, Hughes and Orestes A. Brownson gave a stimulus and a prominence j to Catholic journalism that reflected itself in a national way. They compelled recognition and respect from Horace Greeley, Henry Jarvis Raymond, James Gordon Bennett and a score of other prominent newspaper men. John Boyle O'Reilly perhaps did more to clear away prejudices than any other editor of his day. He must be regarded as the premier Catholic jour nalist of the 19th century. The needs of Catholic journalism in our day demand that we must secure the best journalistic ability and pay well for it. If the Catholic press is to measure up to the ideal set, if it is to be a mighty power for good, the co-operation of the laity is neces sary. The past has demonstrated that without this generous assistance there can be no great standard of excellence, no great measure of success. It has been also the mediocrities of Catholic journalism that have hindered its growth and development. This need no longer be so. 'three Catholic universities, Notre Dame, Fordham and Marquette, have during the past decade established schools of journal ism, where young men may be trained in scien tific, cultural, professional and ethical ways that will enable them to stand in the front rank of editorship. The Catholic laity must in the future respond to the leadership of the schol arly and experienced journalist. They must pay for this high moral and intellectual worth if Catholic journalism is to accomplish its mission.
Bibliography.—
Pam, J. Folic, C.S.C., Librarian, Notre Dame University.