Brann, the Iconoclast (Volume 1 ); A Collection of the Writings of W.C. Brann (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1896. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... wings until heaven is filled with flying feathers, while every blatant jackass who takes his spiritual fodder at that particular rick unbraids his ears and brays approvingly. A TOUCH OF HIGH LIFE. The Press And The Parvenues. There was a time when the principal business of the American press was the publication of important news and the expression of opinion anent matters of moment. In those days it posed as a "public educator," and the self-bestowed title was not altogether inappropriate; but it has, for the most part, dropped its high pretensions and is now notoriously "out for the stuff." The "great dailies" that once went in for glory and aspired to decency, that "molded public opinion" and "saved the country" semioccasionally, are not averse to accepting a fat fee for championing some particular interest, regardless of the general welfare. When it was proven that the GalvestonDallas News had sold its alleged editorial influence, it had the audacity to defend the practice as legitimate journalism A majority of the other morning papers of Texas are not of sufficient importance to justify the public in keeping tab on them. If they should succeed in selling their souls for a copper cent the public would only pity the purchaser. When the great dailies are not "pulling the leg" of some corporation with a legislative axe to grind, or inflating with a pneumogastric bellows some political boomlet born of a bank account, they are courting the parvenues--who are ever ready to pay for publicity--puffing society belles for a consideration, obsequiously bowing to cymling-headed dudes with more dollars than sense and gathering in the golden shekels from every available source. The marriage of Miss Anna Gould--a very commonplace young person--to a French butterfly whom we...