12 JOHN GEOEGE BOUEINOT 



are characteristic of the English and even the Australian press. "When we con- 

 sider the varied topics with which a newspaper writer has to deal in the course of a 

 week's issue, and the short time he has necessarily at his disposal for thoroughly inform- 

 ing himself on the questions on which he has to speak authoritatively, it is certainly sur- 

 prising to notice the knowledge of the subject and the insight into its salient points he 

 exhibits. One must at times recognize evidences of sviperficial information, and a ten- 

 dency to ignore the valuable maxim, "Always verify your facts." One wovild wish 

 sometimes to see a greater sense of responsibility and a more earnest desire to elevate 

 public opinion ; but these are defects which must in the nature of things be associated 

 with daily journalism. After all, it is well to remember that a newspaper in these days of 

 speculation and competition is a business enterprise. No successful journal is likely to 

 be ahead of the community in which it lives, and its daily tone must generally afford a 

 fair criterion of the state of public opinion around it. As the population and the 

 wealth of the country increase, it must happen that journalism will become more of a 

 profession, offering larger emoluments to deserving men, although they are likely to be 

 much smaller for a long time to come than the rewards open to legal and medical men of 

 merit. As a rule, a newspaper man must be more or less to the manner born. I am 

 hardly prepared to admit that much practical benefit can be derived from the establish- 

 men of classes for educating men in the various departments of journalism, as is propos- 

 ed, and I believe even now attempted, in one or two institutions in the United States. 

 A reporter or editorial writer must be trained in the drudgery of a newspaper office, must 

 work his way way up and gain practical experience before he is likely to become suc- 

 cessful in so arduous and engrossing a profession, demanding special qualifications. But, 

 at the same time, I can see very great advantages to be derived by journalism from the 

 careful st^^dy of the different branches of research that shovild fall within the domain 

 of Political Science. Young men, who have a desire to embrace this arduous pursuit as 

 a profession, ought assuredly to make themselves more capable of meeting the many 

 requirements of a vocation, which every year is making greater demands on varied 

 knowledge. An understanding of the principles of Political Science, of the different 

 constitutions of the two continents, and especially of the United States and England, of 

 historical jurisprudence, of political economy and statistics, of the principles that lie at 

 the basis of the two great systems of law that regulate the lives of the Teutonic and 

 Latin races, must certainly strengthen the confidence of a public writer in himself, and 

 give him a mental equipment which most newspaper men, who have not had such 

 advantages, will fully appreciate. The responsibilities that rest upon journalists in this 

 country are undoubtedly great, and they owe it to themselves and to the pxrblic they serve 

 to bring to the numerous questions that come before them for review and judgment the 

 most accurate knowledge as well as honesty of purpose. 



We are now laying the foundations of a great community stretching between two 

 oceans, and the more clearly all classes of our people can learn the principles of govern- 

 ment, and understand the lessons which the history of our own and other countries 

 teaches them, the more confidently Ave can look forward to the future, and all we trust it 

 has in store for us. "We have already achieved a great deal through the instrumentality of 

 the courageous and astute statesmen who have so far guided this cou.ntry through its 

 political development. The institutions we now possess compare very favourably in all 



