1999CRE141B SYRACUSE SERVED BY INTRODUCTION OF ``NEW NEWSPAPER'' 100 YEARS AGO
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[Congressional Record: February 4, 1999 (Extensions)]
[Page E141-E142]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr04fe99-23]
SYRACUSE SERVED BY INTRODUCTION OF ``NEW NEWSPAPER'' 100 YEARS AGO
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HON. JAMES T. WALSH
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, February 4, 1999
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, one century ago, on January 1, 1899, Central
New Yorkers were treated to a new newspaper, The Post-Standard. That
paper, one of a half-dozen at the time, remains today. Now it is one of
two papers, and the only morning newspaper. I want to ask my colleagues
to join me in congratulating the management and staff at this important
milestone.
In particular, I would like to congratulate the top management, Mr.
Stephen Rogers and Mr. Stephen A. Rogers, the President and Publisher
respectively, for their well-known civic leadership and faithful
adherence to the best of principles of journalism in the United States.
With the stewardship of a newspaper comes an important and historic
responsibility. In the attached editorial, it is mentioned that a
newspaper must be profitable to survive. But the newspaper must be
sensitive to its special status in our nation's history. It is
protected mightily by the First Amendment, and its right to print news
and opinion without fear of retribution from any governmental quarter
is unique in the world.
Though we in this body are often at odds with newspapers, we know
their value and we know they represent a fundamental tenet of freedom.
I have included the attached editorial, which appeared January 1 this
year, commemorating the centennial recognition of The Post-Standard.
``CENTENNIAL POST: Your morning paper is 100 today, still
pursuing much the same mission. `A legitimate primary aim of
the newspaper is to make money.'
Thus read the editorial that appeared in the inaugural
edition of The Post-Standard 100 years ago today. The
principle remains true today. As the editorial noted, quoting
an editor-senator from Rhode Island: `A paper that cannot
support itself cannot be any service . . . to spend money
upon it is like wasting fuel in an attempt to kindle a
store.''
The Post-Standard boasts a tradition that extends back more
than a century--to The Post, which traces its origins to
1894, and The Standard, dating to 1829, decades before the
founding of the City of Syracuse. The consolidation of the
two newspapers was described as a victory over `factionalism'
in Onondaga County and the ascendancy of `a Republican
newspaper, dedicated to the public weal along Republican
lines, and representing a united Republicanism.'
That partisan bias reflects an earlier era in newspaper
publishing when journals were closely allied with parties and
candidates. Most newspapers, including The Post-Standard,
have long since declared their independence from rigid party
orthodoxy, endorsing candidates based on their
qualifications, performance and prospects rather than
political affiliation. Of course, The Post-Standard continues
to represent a region long known as a bastion of Republican
fervor.
Although the mission of The Post-Standard through the years
has included some hard truth-telling, its editorial page
since the beginning has attempted to build and strengthen the
community. `The Post-Standard deems the blessings of life and
of work too precious to be frittered away in perpetual
contention and fault-finding,' wrote the editor in 1899. `To
prove itself a cheery presence, seeking to say good of men
and things always when it can, and consenting to say ill only
when it must, shall be this newspaper's consistent aim.'
Hewing to that aim is no easier today than in 1899. There
never seems to be a shortage of rascals, ludicrous schemes
and conspiracies afoot, no less in the Age of McKinley than
the Age of Bill and Monica.
Yet there is something uplifting and inspiring in the long-
ago editoralist's aspiration for his paper to `preach the
gospel of
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right living and bright living without being suspected of
preaching.' He concludes: `If it can help to lift men or in
any degree make better or cheerier or more wholesome the
community with which its lot is cast, it will be glad and
grateful for its opportunity.'
We remain grateful for that opportunity today.''
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