The Perils of Public Opinion
PUBLIC OPINION apart from principles of liberty is the most fickle, the least trustworthy, the unsafest, judge to whom to appeal that this world knows. As a great editor of a great paper nobly said the other day:— Faith in the people is a Democratic ideal; but faith in the infallibility of the people, flattery of the people, surrender of conviction to the passions and prejudices of the people, and the theory that the people can do no wrong and that the majority is sacred—these are not true Democratic ideas. To mould Public Opinion, to lead Public Opinion, to awake and arouse Public Opinion for public good, is both a pleasure and a duty; but a still higher duty even than to reveal is to resist Public Opinion at times. Public Opinion controlled by the divine principle of righteousness may be trusted; but Public Opinion, however big one writes it, moved by impulse or sentiment or prejudice, flattered by demagogos, is the unsafest judge in all the world. It will be found ready to condemn the evils that are far off, build the tombs of the martyred prophets slain by forefathers, and in the present crucify the very Christ of God. The only safe thing to follow is righteousness. The only safe One to trust is the everlasting God. The only true Example is Jesus Christ our Saviour. And now designs great, ab indeed a popular stead of die. Fo Hilpre School T cently r Constan und Bil points a ered by German aroused this, and awaited will app The J cle "Th erine V illustr Anothe Beet in A Heroic Example.—One of the great newspapers of the country is the New York World; but the great thing about it is that it has been built up by the indomitable force of will, courage, and persistence, under great difficulties before which most men would have quailed and sunk in utter discouragement. Twenty years ago Joseph Pulitzer, who had worked up from extremest poverty, bought the New York World, then having a circulation of about four or five thousand, if we rightly remember. Now it has a circulation of little less than a million. There was recently issued its "Twentieth Anniversary Number," the largest issue of a daily paper ever printed, 136 pages, containing a vast amount of information of the twenty years, articles from the pens of prominent men, description of the St. Louis Exposition by able writers and artists, and the World's story of itself. This with many fine artistic designs in color. One copy of this paper weighs over two pounds. The white paper in each copy cost 5 cents, the postage at pound rates cost more than 2 cents a copy; and it is furnished at 5 cents a copy. How can it be afforded?—Its profit, as with all the great dailies, comes from its advertising. And the oversight, the policy, the success of this great paper, is owing to the courage of a sick man who has not been able to read a word of the paper for sixteen years. How much Mr. Pulitzer recognizes God's goodness in the bestowal of talents and power for this work we know not. The lesson we would draw for our readers is this. If one man, so handicapped by ill health and blindness, can accomplish such a work, what ought the well, the strong, who have faith in God, to accomplish! How much depends on the way one gives himself to his work! Yet Mr. Pulitzer with commendable modesty feels that his work has come far short.