Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-27
DAVID FULTON, Enron.
VOL. 3----NO. so.

the business, and who are intelligent, obser-
wing, discriminating, common sense men. Such
editors must, from the very nature of the case,
better understand their duties than their read
ers possibly can. Not that they are more
learned, more gifted, or more profound in ma
ny matters, or SO much SO, perhaps, as many
of their readers. But their facilities are great
er-through their widely extended interchange
of papers and sentiments, they must necessari-
ly catch the spirit of the world at glance,
and partake of its impulse at every moment.
They have before them, as it were, the con-
centrated intelligence and wisdom of the world
There are papers breathing the spirit of the
people of all parties, of all creeds, and all clas
ses, in the metropolis of Boston-there, the
same from New Orleanszhere, the same from
Montreal and st. Lous--from the State OF
Maine and from Oregon-from Nova Scotia
and from Mexicc-and from all intermediate
places; the same from Hong Kong and from
Bombay-from the Island of Great Britain to
Isles of the Pacific-in short, from all part OF
the civilized world. With all these lights be-
fore him, and with the standard periodicals
from men of profound science and learning,
he must be dull scholar, indeed, who does
not gather up sufficient knowledge and intel
Iigence to have some to impart to others. 1t
is his vocation to study and analyze, and sift
and combine, all these elements of light and
knowledge-of moral science and political e.
economy. He must necessarily read and scan
the political opinions of both friends and oppo-
nents; he must become acquainted with the
sentiments of the people, as reflected through
these varied channels.
And yet, with all these superior facilities
and advantages, the editor is often amused, If
not annoyed, by the complaints of some tyro
in politics or learning, who having mastered
one idea, having glanced at one side OF the
question that he has made his hobby, fancles
himself master of all branches Of politics and
learning, and forthwith assumes the preroga-
tive of debating what is proper, and OF IN
structing the wayward editor in the discharge
of his editorial duties But the intelligent,
right thinking editor has this fact to console
him-that these complaints and these dictate
rial proffers of advice rarely If ever come from
the more intelligent and sensible portion OF his
readers These may occasionally make, it is
true, a friendly and enlghtening suggestion,
such as every reasonable editor is always
gratifed to receive, and ready to profit by, but
they never assume the attitude of censors or
dctators. e 1t is the emptiest barrels that make
the most noise''
Every profession has its peculiar preroga-
tives and rights. If you go to competent
attorney for advice on a legal point, although
he may be inferior to yourself in sope other
branches of learning, yet in legal knowledge
lie is your superior because he has made the
science of law his study, and you have not ;
you admit that It's his prerogative to counsel,
and your duty TO follow that counsel. You
go to a man of like comparative standing in
the medical profession; you may know more,
perhaps, of theology or law than he, but he is
more competent to mend a broken leg or to
cure diseased liver than you-it's his voca-
ton So with the sensible editor; while he is
daily adding to his stock of knowledge, and
never thinks himself too old nor too wise to
learn, and while he is always thankful for
friendly advice and useful suggestions-ye
there are certain prerogatives in the conduct
of paper which he alone must be allowed to
exercise.
But we perceive that we have. like glany a
better sermonizer, strayed somewhat from our
text. Yetin these random reflections we may
have suggested some stray thought that will
be edifyng, if not beneficial, to our readers.
NelU York Globe.