Joseph Pulitzer was a Hungarian-born immigrant who rose to fame and fortune as a publisher and newspaper editor in the late nineteenth century. He is widely regarded as the father of modern journalism, and his legacy lives on today. Although he is recognized for advocating for openness and truth in the press, Pulitzer was also a fierce opponent of democracy. In this article, we will explore why Pulitzer regarded democracy with deep suspicion, and discuss how this mistrust influenced his life and career.
Pulitzer’s Biography and History
Joseph Pulitzer was born in Hungary in 1847, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1864. After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, Pulitzer began working as a reporter, before eventually launching his own newspaper in 1879, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He soon gained fame for being an outspoken and unabashed advocate for fairness and accuracy in journalism. This made Pulitzer a natural target for his enemies; for example, in 1895, then-president Grover Cleveland accused Pulitzer of libel and filed a suit against him.
Pulitzer’s Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Democracy
It was during this period that Pulitzer began to question the value of democracy, believing that it offers more opportunities for demagogues and special interests to manipulate the public. He also argued that democracy is a system that favors the powerful and wealthy over the less fortunate. Pulitzer wrote: “The weak are trodden upon, while the strong crush the few to satisfy their own ends… Democracy is an aristocracy of the mob.”
Pulitzer had particular disdain for partisan politics, believing that it served to obfuscate the truth. He was extremely critical of party politics and the tendency of politicians to make promises that they could not or would not fulfill. Pulitzer’s distrust of democracy was evident not just in his writing, but in his own personal transitions between political parties. He frequently switched between being a Democrat and a Republican, depending on the issue at hand.
Pulitzer’s Actions to Limit Democracy
Pulitzer’s disdain for democracy led to some dramatic changes in the way he ran his newspapers. He used the platform of the Post-Dispatch to criticize the government and powerful corporations. At the same time, he used his other newspapers to protect the interests of big business and to suppress debate on important but divisive issues. For example, Pulitzer shut down a debate over the issue of immigration because he believed it to be too controversial and would hurt his business.
Pulitzer also used his influence to influence the judicial system. He argued for a more powerful Supreme Court, believing that it would be best for the public and reduce the amount of power wielded by the government.
He criticized many of the laws of the day, such as the Sedition Act, believing them to be an infringement of individual liberty. Pulitzer also worked to pass laws that benefited his own interests, such as the Mann-Elkins Act, a law that granted newspapers more power to set prices for their content.
Pulitzer’s Legacy
Although Pulitzer’s mistrust of democracy may seem strange to modern eyes, it must be understood in the context of his times. In an era of massive industrialization and economic inequality, it was hard to blame Pulitzer for questioning the fairness of democracy.
Whatever the merits of Pulitzer’s views on democracy, there is no denying that his legacy has had a major impact on journalism. His staunch defense of veracity, accuracy, and transparency have forever made him a beacon in the field of journalism. Pulitzer’s legacy lives on today in the millions of words written every day, in his 6 Pulitzer Prizes awarded annually, and in the countless journalists inspired by his commitment to truth and justice.
Joseph Pulitzer’s legacy is inextricably linked to the history of journalism, and his innovations and ideals still influence the press and media today. Although he was an advocate for openness and truth in the press, Pulitzer’s deep mistrust of democracy was a central tenet of his life and work. Pulitzer’s actions to protect his own interests and limit democracy—using his newspapers to limit debate and pass laws that benefited him—are a reminder of the power of wealthy individuals to manipulate the public discourse. Ultimately, Pulitzer’s legacy of truth and transparency stands out among the many successes and failures of democratic rule.
