Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-02
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The following sentiments of the Editor of the N,
Y. Evening Mirror, so exactly accord with our own
on the subject which they treat, that we cannot
resist transferring them to our columns:
The newspapers are the staff of life to multitudes
in the city. Thousands rely upon them for their
daily supply of materials for conversation, and for
thought far they have time and taste for think
ing. The day cannot be entered upon without the
morning paper The man would be at loss for
topics, and would seem to have no benefit of opnion
for the day before him, unless he had read at least
one of the journals before venturing into the walks
of business
This reliance may be excessive. 1t may indicate
feebleness, and will perpetuate itself. Some men
seem to be little more than utterers of what they
read in the morning, in their newspaper. They fail
into the channel there opened, and reason with the
arguments there furnished. They make out pro-
for themselves They catch few leading points,
which answer for the snatehcs Of conversation du-
ring the day.
Our journals are. to a great extent, i'll adapted
to the mass Of the readers. This may seem like q
bold assertion but put it to the test of thorough in
quiry. The journalist ovcrraies his readers. He
oyerrates their knowledge of geography of history
of political affairs He is sometimes aware that he
does this. and considers it policy 90 beyond them
for the purpose of giving learned air to his columns
and of satisfying the few who understand the
whole. But these very few. The abstracts of
foreign news are unintellgbe to large part of the
readers: The illusions to persons and places are
tons of such intelligence This is still more true of
many of the letters from foreign countries which
learnedly treat of foreign politics.
1.-The editorials usually so far reaching. and
so imposngly deep and learned, that to ninetenths
of the readers they are wholly unattractive, and
even useless. The editor is ambitious to write a
great leader, and he perhaps succeeds but it is to
the disappointment of his subscribers, who would
rather have plain outspoken paragraph: a topic
of immediate interest. This fashion of great and
fn6 hocv- rod
years. Many of our editors very wisely form their
leading editorial by summing up, in brief and point
ed way, the topics of the news. The readers APP
prove of this They obtain thus concise statement
which often answers all their purposes and the col
umns of detail neglected
When there is a commanding topic before the
public mind it may properly be treated of in for
NAL leading article. But there is no need of sum-
moning far off subj ects for the sake of having an
elaborate leader at any rate. This practice has
sometimes been pushed to ridiculous extravaganza
in papers which did not circulate among those who
could enter into very profound Investigations. The
stlted editor has made laughable figure among the
buyers of his little sheet. Little did they trouble
themselves about his prox didactcs They turned
to the column of accidents and police reports There
is r. present less of this udicrous appropriateness
in the New York journals, than in those of some
other cities.
IAN editor should make it his business to befriend
his readers, and not to display himself. He should
address himself to his work with tact well ab
ity. He should know how to shoot his game on the
wing The heavy abstruseness which may answer
in the quarterly will catch the attention of the
newspaper reader, who picks up the ephemera sheet
to read by snaches, and to read just what forces it.
self upon his interest, and no more. Stateness and
imposing erudition are not in accordance with the
actual Office of the daily journal.
Partizan journals do much less to form public
opinion than is generally supposed. man sub
scrbes for paper because it advocates particular
view not in order to find aid in his enquiries
Those read who already convinced, in some
way won. The patron adapts his paper to his no.
tons He rejects all which do not go for his
side. 1t is probable that there are few events SO
rare the conversion of mind by argument; espe-
cially after side has been espoused. Partizan
valor consists, in great measure. in showing ones
self proof against all reasonngs and all facts from
the other side.
at follows, therefore, that the frequent expedient
OF setting up paper to advocate particular views
and interests, is much less productive expedient
than those imagine. who give their money so zeal
ousy. Often there is great sacrifice of property
in this way, without any evident result In fact the
very announcement of such paper warns people
against it-warns them againt subscribing and
against reading. The publication lives until the
original fund is used up, and is heard of no more.
The stopping ones paper, the instant any senti-
ment adverse to present opinions is found in it, is sill
ly transaction. Such read der must have unbound
ed confidence in his Wi sdom. He must consider
himself too wise to learn any thing. He must feel
that all deviation from his notions is baneful
He does what he to silence all free discussion"