CHAPTER VI ORGANIZATION OF JOURNALISM. I myself am a gentleman of the Press, and have no other scutcheon. — Benjamin Disraeli fiS^jJ. |oBB£TT in an often quoted passage expressed the desire to have the editors of his day assembled in Hyde Park, in order that the public might be disillusionized in respect to the editorial "we," by beholding the assembled editors in their proper persons. History does not record that the sturdy old journalist's wish was gratified ; but the editors, and indeed all ranks of journalists in the present day, certainly cannot be accused of any disposition to shun the public gaze, or to refrain from coming before their country- men in the promotion of various organizations designed to improve the well-being of journalism as a whole, and to assert its claim to take up its rightful position among the liberal professions of the country. In his introductory address in the Daily News^ more than forty years ago, Dickens foreshadowed, as an object of worthy ambition for any leaders of the Press in England, that they should organize journalism into a national and self-respecting institution. Let us see first what was Dickens's ideal, and then consider how far it has been carried into effect in recent years. " We especially invite," wrote the first editor of the Daily News^ " the attention to one feature we have marked out for ourselves. We seek, as far as in us lies, to elevate the character of the public Press in England. We believe it would attain a much higher position, and that those who wield its powers would be infinitely more respected as a class, and an important one, if it were purged of a disposition to sordid attacks
