The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-25 00:00:00

DIFFICULTIES OF AN EDITOR

Nothing can exceed the perplexity to which the conductor
of a public journal is often exposed, in the discharge of his
arduous and multifarious duties. This has been frequently
the subject of remark. He has so many tastes to gratify,
and so many varying humours to please, that it is almost im-
possible to keep his readers in good temper. We have had
within the last week or two a curious specimen of this diffi •
culty ; and it will, perhaps, afford some little amusement to
our readers to be made acquainted with it, and will offer a
few useful hints for the consideration of the parties more
immediately interested—the writers of the cammunications.
Were we to publish all the epistles with which we are favored,
tendering advice to us in our editorial capacity, a more pre-
cious jumble of contrarieties in opinion would rarely be
perused. We think it right, however, to give publicity to
the subjoined communications—one dated little more than a
month since, and the other the 23d inst. The insolent tone
adopted by the writer of the latter almost induced us to con-
sign it to oblivion ; but, calling to remembrance the senti-
ments expressed by our first correspondent, and being able
to lay our hands on his letter, we thought some little instruc-
tion might be gathered from a perusal of bob. There are
some persons who have the vanity to suppose, that as soon
as their names are placed on our subscribers' book, they have
a right to exercise the most unlimited control over our opi.
nions and the various subjects which we ought to discuss, as
well as the mode of handling them. We beg to tell such
meddliug, self-sufficient gentlemen, that they are entitled to
no such privilege, and that in future we shall pass unnoticed
all their uncalled-for effusions. Let them read the pages of
the Standard with a little more attention, and they will find
that their complaints are generally without foundation ; and
we feel persuaded that in few, if any instances, they proceed
from a bond fide " Subscriber." The following are the let-
ters to which we have alluded :

TO THE EDITOR OF THE 4irEppoo.4 STAND AR!".

Sip —As the emissaries of the Anti-Corn-Law League
and the advocates of free trade arc so sedulous in the propa-
gation of their absurd fallacies, I am glad to perceive that
you take every opportunity of exposing and refuting their
speculative theories. At one time, sir, I feared you were
devoting too large a portion of your valuable space to the
discussion of theological subjects, whicb, in the opinion of
the great majority of your readers, ought not to be forced
upon their attention with too great frequency. It is per-
fectly true, sir, that you ought not to flinch from asserting
and maintaining the doctrines and principles of the Esta,
blished Church; and it is equally clear that nothing- should
deter you from manfully resisting thg di;serninntion of he,,
resy, whether proceeding from within lir without the church.
"*", 4 ..re.cuel'fi! yCni have already done with sufficient
firmness and precision. No one can mistake on whose-side
you are resolved to stand"; and now whca
of subjects of a commercial character agitate the country, I
hope you will not cease to make known to the conservative
public the nature, objects, and effects of every measure by
whomsoever introduced, as I am glad to see you have been
recently striving to do with commendable diligence and abi,
lity. I have hard much conversation with intelligent and ex,
perienced men on this matter, and I assure you I speak the
sentiments of a vast multitude of your supporters when I
say, that we are pleased beyond measure to find that you are
determined to express your sentiments on every subject in-
teresting to the commercial community, which is beyond,
dispute the most legitimate object of discussion in the co-
lumns of a newspaper. Opportunities will doubtless occur
when you will feel called upon again to notice the heresies
put forward by the professed friends of our scriptural:.hurch,
and the open, undisguised attacks upon her creeds and cere,
monies by her avowed opponents ; but at present lo)nceive
there are other subjects which should engage your attention,
and which are of paramount importance to the ptblie.—
Yours, &c., APROTESTANTIB42.ANT MERCHANT,
Great George square, Jan.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
Sia,—l perceive by the Standard of yesterday, thit your
paper continues to flourish and your circulation to increase ;
and this success you in a great measure attribute to the
upholding of conservative and Protestant principles.. Now,
sir, as a subscriber, allow me to ask you by what tile you
lay claim to the championship of Protestantism, whist the
daring and slanderous attacks now regularly made,by the
Mail remain not only unanswered, but unnoticed ? That
print has now become the avowed and open vehicleof Pu-
seyism ; and the Protestant Standard, the organ of Evan-
gelicalism, (proh pudor !) lacks either the talent or tie cou-
rage "to fight the good fight." The press, it is to) much
to be feared, is no exception to other worldly occurations :
success naturally introduces negligence and inactivity. Still
I cannot help thinking that your silence in this instance arises
from the want of moral courage to face your adversory ; for,
had the articles in question appeared in the 4./bion I have
little doubt they would long since have been notice() and re!
fated. The Mail, however, being a political friend and a
doughty foe, is, to say the least of him, an incotvenient+
antagonist. I have not the vanity to suppose that this com-
munication will rouse you from your apathy : before, how-
ever, bringing the nuisance complained of to the notice of
other papers, will you, in your communication to correspon-
dents, in answer to this inquiry, simply state wiether you
still intend to allow the articles in question to pass un-
heeded by" It Your silence is criminal, and your fubscribere
are calling out shame ; and many, like myself, are beginning
to think that we ought not to support so lukewarm a " Pro-
testant champion.' A SUBSCRIBER.
Liverpool, 23rd February, 1842.
* The italics throuhout are the writer's own.
t Had " a subscriber" clothed his question in terms a
little more courteous, we might have condescended tc have
given him a reply.