MEANING OF THE FOURTH ESTATE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16432, 6 May 1919, Page 8

MEANING OF THE FOURTH ESTATE.

Herewith is presented a picture of Edmund Burke addressing the House of Commons on the occasion w-hen, realising the power of the press, ho pointed to the reporters’ gallery and called it more powerful than the three estates that make the backbone of Great Britain. “There arc three estates in Parliament,” he said, “but in the reporters’ gallery yonder there is a Fourth Estate more powerful than they all.” When Edmund Burke, pointing to the gallery assigned to the press, said these words ho not only gave to the world a name for nevvspaperdom, but called direct attention to the potentiality of the press, its mission as a public servant, stronger,, and better equipped than the recognised estates of the realm.

Edmund Burko was not in the sense of easy delivery a grdat orator, but the record of his speeches shows them superior to those of his accomplished rivals. Ho was a thinker rather than a talker. Ho brought out facts with awkward force 'that struck his hearers with- the sledge-hammer of truth. There can be no more forcible example of Edmund Burke’s ability to look into, understand and make others appreciate the forces at work in civilisation than his calling the attention of Parliament to the power overlooking them, that has proven the wisdom of the famous saying: “The pen is mightier than the sword.” The Fourth Estate has carried for 25 years Mr. Burke’s words on its front page. They explain its title. It is still occasionally asked the meaning of the Fourth Estate.

The picture of Edmund Burke delivering his famous words is meant to call to the minds of the present generation of newspaper men the champion who stood up for their' profession in the days of powdered wigs, knickerbockers and silk stockings.