A Newspaper Centenary.

Evening Star, Issue 17696, 24 June 1921, Page 4

A Newspaper Centenary.

Ox Saturday, the sth of May, 1821, there

was published the first issue of a weekly paper, -he ‘ Manchester Guardian.’ On the sth of

May, 1921, the ‘ Guardian ’ presented to its readers a special number to commemorate the event. Included in it Is a lengthy and interesting article on ‘The History, of the “Manchester Guardian,’” which is practically a history of the city itself during the last hundred years, and in a lesser degree of the chief events that stirred the county during that time. Manchester has always possessed ardent champions of peace movements. They pushed their ideas with such vigor and unflinching courage that Manchester, in the political sense at any rate, has seldom been a city of peace, and many turbulent scenes have been witnessed on occasions of national crises, Tho paper was launched on a fateful day, for on May 5, 1821, Napoleon died at St, Helena. Ideas in regard to journalism have changed vastly since then. " The writer of the article states: “We look in vain through the first issues of the ‘ Manchester Guardian ’ for any account of the death of Napoleon. When it is at last mentioned we find it, not announced, but alluded to as something which had got into the public consciousness without the aid of the newspapers The fact was in the world and journalism knew it not.” But the disadvantages of the journalist in those days were many and great. Facilities were not put in his way, but in most cases were placed as far beyond his reach as possible. There were no telegraph and cable services, mail trains had no place in the State activities, and the paper had to be got out laboriously by hand. Freedom of expression was not tolerated if it outstripped the ideas prevailing in official circles, and the editor who so offended was in dire peril of the law. But, as has been suggested, the paper was established probably not to make money, but to make opinion.

Indeed, the financial' handicaps were so great that no business man,- would regard it aa an attractive investment. The revenue stamp was the heaviest impost, for out of the sovenpanco charged for tho paper fourpenoo went to the State. In addition, the Government deducted 3s 6d from the price of each advertisement, and placed a tax of 3d per lb on paper. Tho revenue tax in 1836 was reduced to a penny, and in 1855 it was abolished altogether. Then the ‘ Guardian ’ appeared as a daily paper, and became a force not only in Manchester, but throughout the country. Tho ‘Guardian’ has always expounded the Liberal philosophy, but at out time, when Mr Garnett was editor,, there were sharp differences ii. the Liberal camp, and the paper throw its weight on the side of Lord Palmerston and against the Manchester School, of which Cobden and Bright were tho chief prophets. The present editor is Mr 0. P. Scott. He was appointed to the editorial chair in 1872, and under his guidance the paper has maintained a policy which, if it has not been popular, has at least commanded respect because of the sincerity of its beliefs and tlie courage and ability with which they were expounded. Mr Scott still controls tho columns of the paper, and, though time and experience have modified his views to some extent, he sticks tenaciously to tho main principles which have guided him in his journalistic career. The shafts of derision in regard to tho paper’s Little England and anti-imperial proclivities and its designation as the keeper of tho Nonconformist conscience have not deflected It froai its coarse. It defended Mr Gladstone through all tho stormy days of the Horne Rule movement; it was a staunch defender and ally of the strong and compact Liberal Party which had been built up of the shattered fragments of Whigs, Pcclitcs, and Palmerstonians; it opposed the Boer War with fierce intensity ; and it criticised Mr Chamberlain after his defection from tho party with merciless severity. In the centenary number Mr Scott has a short article which indicates tho secret of his success. It is character. His character is shown in the following words : —“The primary office of a newspaper is tho gathering of news. At the peril of its soul it must see that the supply is not tainted. Neither in what it gives, nor in what it does not give, nor in the mode of presentation must tho unclouded face of truth suffer wrong. Comment is free, but facts are sacred. The voice of opponents no less than that of friends has a right to bo heard. Comment also is justly subject to a self-imposed restraint. It is well to be frank; it is oven better to bo fair. This is an ideal. Achievement in such matters is hardly given to man. Perhaps none of us can attain to it in the desirable measure. Wo can but try, ask pardon for shortcomings, and there leave the matter.” A paper which is independent in its outlojk and sincere in its convictions renders important public service. This can bo said of the ‘Manchester Guardian.’ It attained a national standing, and has become a national institution.