The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-02-20

~ Here is a right good thing from Will
lis, urged to justify the proprietyof the bene-
fit rendered to Gen. Morris. 1t is worked
into one of those editorial colloquies which
form a peculiar feature Of the Evening Mir
ror. The General is fearful that it may be
considered in bad taste for him to accept a
public offering of the kind, and bluntly puts
the question TO his associate@"Isn't your
pride wounded for me?' Willis answers in
the negative, and then proceeds to lay down
this sage apothegm, which no: only fully
bears out the propriety of the benefit, but
involves a truth habitually overlooked by the
multitude, to the great di~sparagement Of the
press. Editors" says the prose poet, ''are
the pump-handles of charity, always helping
people TO water, and never thought to be
thirsty themselves How true a thing is
this! The good-natured public have come
TO believe, with unexampled unanimity, that
editors are indeed but "pump-handles."-!
No enterprise of utility, benevolence or
pleasure, can be projected, that a rush is not
at once made to some attic sanctum, and
the "'pump-handle" seized incontinenily 10
be worked al IibiEuzn. If the enterprise be
Of a public nature, the whole town feel at
liberty 10 ply the editor for his support; if ii
be d private one, the %concourse may be less
numerous, but the few who do approach,
work with,a periinacity which fully makes
amends.
1t is quite as reasonable to ask a r merchant
to give bis goods, a lawyer TO grant his SER
vices, the mechanic to proffer his skill and
labor to a public charity and improvement.
as TO demand Of an editor to surrender his
columns and types TO such uses. Yet all
other professions are paid for contributions
to these objects, whilst editors. write them in
to favor and pay for the printing besides
Taking into consideration the thousand and
one schemes Of private charity and public
improvement-many of them yielding fat
salaries to those that manage them-which
the press espouseS and sustains without re.
Enumeration, no class of men contribute so
largely TO works of this description as the
projectors of newspapers; and yet, as a
class, none are less able to give aims. They
do it cheerlully whenever they feel c%onvinc.
ed that a scheme proposed is one of public
utility, or a charity sought, is really deserv-
ed. If an invention be discovered that
promises TO yield the palentee a fortune, the
editor is expected TO puff it up at his owr
cost. liza public charity, that gives a com
Portable support to a dozen officers, is attack
ed, the editor must defend it and its manage
ment for thanks. Again, if some wealthy
gentleman happens TO make a liberal dona.
ton 20 charitable uses, the editor must hole
him up to admiration and respect; whilst i
: not unfrequently happens that the cost o
printing the paragraph is a larger contribu
ton in proportion 10 the means of the prin
ter, than the gift of which it makes lauda
e tory mention, We omit one description o
aims, of which the press is quite lavish, a
being Of dubious utility. that is the fame
I%confers upon, and the character it makes 70
public men--many of whom are indebted Il
Is the press for their greatness.