Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-09
EDITORIAL LIFE.

Every -Ane>ot business has ltssdifhcultles
and its peculiar sources of annoyance. "A
brief experience only is sufficientto satisfy
any man that the control of public journal
is no exception to the general rule. These
annoyances are not only peculiar, but count
less, and what is still worse, irremediable.
Selfish, uncharitable mischieyous, enemies,
and suspicious friends, are found in every
community ever ready to indulge their
besetting propensities upon those who are
endeavoring to discharge their public func-
tons with honesty, propriety and efficiency.
Let the tone of the press come in rebutting
contact with their own selfish aims and in
dividual aspirations, and host of harpies
surround the haplesa editor ready to tear
out and willing to feed upon his very vitals.
Every newspaper conductor will recognize
the truth of the following paragraph from
the Norfok .4rgus; and every honest and
independent editor will respond to It's con-
Guiding sentiment. Honesty is the best
policy" in the editorial, as well as every
other vocation, and the missiles Of the dem
agogue will fall harmless at the feet OF the
firm and fearless advocate of honest con-
victions. But to the extract:
A journal that has a tolerable circulation
has many readers, and variety Of minds
and tastes to consult. To expect to please
all, is idle, and he is silly editor who at
tempts it, Do what you will, some feel dis
appointment and express dissatisfaction
Many will take offence because of your mod
Grafton, while others will condemn because
you are not sufficiently ultra; the selfish are
only gratifed when their peculiar schemes
or private interests are advanced, no matter
what injury may be inflicted upon the great
public. Again, there is class of minds,
fancying themselves invariably right, as
cribe Partially and prejudice to the con-
ductor of press when he does not happen
to see and think as they do. We not I'M
frequently come in contact with such par
ties, and no one who exercises the right OF
thinking for himself, but must expect to
meet with their condemnation, and often
times, denunciation. We are not so consti-
tuted as to be enabled to carry water on
both shoulders. The best way to get along
is to endeavor to do justice, to speak fear
lessly, and be loyal to sentiment and wait for
victory.
To discriminate with invariable precision
between things that demand the comments
of the Press and those that do not is a task
which requires calm and deliberate exer-
else of the judgment and firm resolution
to abide by its decisions.
With the open assailant who comes out in
the face of day with his insults and insinu-
atoms, the honest and manly editor may
contend to some advantage before an intel
ligent public; but it is more difficult to deal
with that ohicious friendship that undertakes
to dictate the terms upon which it is to be
enjoyed, and to enforce its selfish demands
with wounds inflicted upon sensibilities to
which it is itself stranger. To satisfy all
such and yet observe decent self-respect
is one of the impossibilities of the age.
o. We learn that the first day the New
Postage law went into operation, larger a.
mount of money for prepaid letters was taken
in at the Staunton Post Office than on the same
day of last year notwithstanding the great
reduction of the rates of postage, showing
of course a great increase in the number OF
such letters. This circumstance indicates
} an intention on the part OF letter writers to
pay their own postage in future, which is
quite encouraging. Indeed it should now
be considered breach of good-manners to
send letter unpaid through the mail under
ordinary circumstances. Our Postmaster
J informs US that hereafter, no accounts will
,, be kept at the office. On the subject of
Postage Stamps, which are very much need
ed in this community, we find the follow
ing in the National Ints1ligencer.
PosrAGE SrAMPs-IG reference 10 the immedi-
ate and immense demand throughout the country
for postage stamps of the several denominations,
prepared under the late act Of Congress, under
stand that although the manufacturers at Phladel-
pha are now using every exerton to furnish them,
they nevertheless connOt turn off sufficient guam
tity to enable the Department to distribute them at
once over the whole Union.
About 2, SOC, 900 have been received by the De-
pariment, and promptly dispatched to the most i'm
pOrtant points, and arrangements are in progress
speedily to supply the numerous pos, offices all o.
yer the country, so that all will soon have the OPP
portunity and the advantage Of conveniently pre-
paying their correspondence.
The manufacturers are making between three
and four hundred thousand s:ampsa day, and are
ndefagable in their efforts to increase the daily
amount up to the point of a full supply. That be-
ing once attained, the public will, wthou. further
delay be furnished to every desired extent.
The BASIS QUESTION AGAIN.-H seems
that some of the Eastern friends of the
Mixed Basis are determined that this ques-
ton shall not stay settled. In compliance
with instructions received from his constit-
uents, Mr.. WINGFIELp, of Bedford, has
given notice in the Convention that on the
9th inst, to-day he would probably move
a reconsideration of the vote by which the
Compromise was adopted. We observe
also that public meeting in connection
with this movement was called at Char
lottesville for last Monday. TO re-instruct