THE HESPERIAN
day. In the Pennsylvania Gazette, Benja
min Franklin influenced public opinion on
political and electrical subjects. Among
tho files of the Boston Gazette begun in 1755
you may catch tho spirit of tho approaching
revolution. There aro articles written by
Otis, the two Adams and Warren. These
men spoke to the thinkers of that period
and did more perhaps towards moulding and
strengthening public opinion than any other
four men have ever done. The Massachu
setts Sj)y was a different style of paper but
effective nevertheless. Tho Boston Gazette
spoke and tho Massachusetts Sj)y cham
pioned its speech. It was light and active,
but a good skirmisher.
The question of abolition furnished food
for newspapers established before and dur
ing the civil war. At no time in our history
was a better chance displayed for editors to
establish undying fame. Both sides in the
contest were ably represented and editors
on either side guided public opinion. Some,
representing southern ideas, are still ad
mired for their honesty but pitied for their
misguidance. Others, upholding northern
views, are yet remembered with gratitude by
white and black alike. The Boston, Liber
ator was founded on New Year's day, 1S31.
It ushered in a period as black and bloody as
the days of the old Norse kings. Its founder,
Wm. Lloyd Garrison, was editor, writer,
compositor and pressman. He moulded
public opinion so strongly that 5,000 were
offered for his arrest and trial. Notwith
standing his misfortunes he continued to
guide public sentiment by means of his pa
per until New Year's day, 18G1. When
that day dawned the cause for which he had
devoted every intelligent faculty he possessed
was about to be won. He had not only
strengthened public sentiment but he had
incited it to such a degree that nothing
could stay its irresistable course. The
abolition of slavery was sure, and William
Lloyd Garrison lived to see the negro's
triumph and his own.
A contemporary of Garrison was John
Greenleaf Whitlier, a journalist also. The
two men hated slavery with equal hatred,
but they could not work together. Garrison
was violent in his "methods, Whitticr loved
peace while Garrison commanded, Whitticr
persuaded. Tho former sounded tho harsh
notes of war and the latter cooed the soft
notes of peace. One developed the element
of stern manhood, tho other infused into it
the spirit of mercy. Both moulded and
guided, intelligently and ideally, public
opinion, and each in his own way did all he
could to abolish slavery.
Such is journalism, a profession that has
been strengthened and weakened, ennobled
and debased. It is a profession that will
lead one to the heights of fame or to the
depths of degradation. There is no happy
mean, but the height once reached will
amply repay the editor for all the toil and
care he has experienced in his attempt to
control public opinion. P.
The Athletic association has withdrawn from
the slate association. This was almost necessi
tated by the character and manner of conducting
the state field day. In the lai few years we
have taken nearly all the principal events, which,
of course, is largely due to the vast number of
students in attendance here. And it is for just
this reason that our local field day is a greater
success than the state field day. In nearly every
event in our local field day we have more con
testants than there is in the stale field day.
Hereafter we shall be able to have our local field
day somewhat later in the season, as it will not
be necessary to hold it some two weeks before
the state field day. Last year we were some
what hampered for this reason, and had to hold a
part of our local contest in the gymnasium, on
account of rainy weather. Had we not been in
the State association w e could have put it off un
til the weather was favorable, and then held a
contest worthy the name of field day. Again,
by our withdrawal, we have colleges of nearly
equal standing, and a contest between them will
truly be a contest for supremacy. But, now that
we have withdrawn let those who intend to enter
our field day commence to train at once. We
have a gymnasium well equipped and there is no
reason why our next local field day should not be
the greatest athletic event of the season.
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