Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-11-23
NEW SPAPER EDITING.

Many vulgar notions obtain in regard to
editorials. An editors abilities are meas
ured by the amount of editorials he furnish
es weekly or daily for his paper If he
writes but little, it is attributed to his want
OF ability to write more; and SO vice rersa,
if his paper is always filled with leaded
matter, he is of course, a man of great tai
ents, no matter what kind of writing it is.
So great is the prevalence Of this opinion,
that it is really unsafe for a man to UNDER
take the management of public Journal,
for he must either kill himself or keep it
well filled with originals, or his reputation
and pocket will suffer. These facts make
the situation of an editor extremely unplea-
SAINT, especially a beginner, who has his
own reputation and that of his paper to es-
tablish. Sick or well, rain or shine, at
home or abroad, at all times and under all
circumstances, he must write. This is in
furious to the reader. Many excellent ar
tlces, better than the editor can produce,
and which he would cheerfully lay before
the readers were it not for this erroneous
notion, he is obliged to reject.
There are but few sufficiently informed
on the variety Of subjects which a newspa-
per editor is obliged to take notice of, to en-
able him to write proftably Of them all; and
if he could publish the reflections of those
familiar with such subjects as he had not
made his particular study, he would be re-
lieved and the reader benefited. The habit
which is now 50 common in editors of mu-
tiIlating productions, and serving them up
in their own style, owes its origin to this
vulgar notion of the reader, that the editor
must write every thing he publishes.
But we regret that this is not the first
error into which the public and newspaper
writer's themselves have fallen. A paper
which is not regularly well spiced with ita-
ces, &c, is set down by many as an insip-
id and dull sheet. Some editors are gov
erned in their selections by these appendix
ges, preferring, or at least selecting, those
the most strongly marked with these evil
dences Of profoundness. Whether this is
done from choice or from disposition to suit
the taste of the reader, we are not prepar-
ed determine, but the effect is the same
Others again, and the number is not small
are best pleased with the editor who deals
abundantly in severe, harsh, and vulgar
terms; or, in other words, is constantly abu-
sing and applying the most ngcntemanly
epithets to political opponents. These con-
stitute with this class, the best evidences of
talents and zeal, setting him down as a
blockhead and hypocrite who does not call
them into requistion. This style is most
in vogue with politicians, hence its preva-
lence in the political press.
We see daily, contemplate ribaldry fly
ing the entire rounds, whilst sensible and
rational articles fall, tor the most part, still
born from the press. This is to be regret
ted. 1t is injurious to the writer and rea-
der.
A remarkable instance, and at the same
time a powerful illustration of our position,
occurred in the effort Of Amos Kendall to
establish press. 1t is known that Mr.. X.
is one Of the strongest political writer's Of
the party to which he belongs in the coun-
try, yet with all his ability and reputation,
he failed in the attempt to establish paper
whilst many others of the same political
creed managed by inferior intellects, -four
ish in the same city. Why is this? Sim
ply because quack politicians and quack
editors are in more favor these days than
profound thinkers and orthodox writer's.
\ man who can give a reason for his
belief is dull and stupid whilst he who can
abuse his political opponents, and revile
his fellow beings, is magnifed into an APP
ollo.