[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 20 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E141-E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   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

[[Page E142]]

     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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