The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-11
Editorial Qualifications.

The New York Tribune contains a sketch
Of the proper qualifications Of an editor. which
We copy with appreciation.
"We know that a periodical devoted to some sim
gle topics, class of topcs-a agriculture, tempe
rance, abolition, or Odd acknowledgements
far narrower range of capacities, and may perhaps
be conducted with decent efficiency by single
editor Such sheet is not properly newspaper,
but series of tracts, put forthrat stated periods
1t may be very necessary and very useful; but q
newspaper ia another matter. And, even in con-
ducting this periodical tract, it is not good for
manto be alone. He may easily write it all, and
have time to spare; but be should have hours for
profounder reading. for metbodical investigation;
he should enjoy opportunities of travel and heart
communion with bis fellow men, for want Of W hch
some editors lose all sympathy with the age in
which they live, and drift unconsciousy back into
the XIth century, or there abouts A life in closet
even with printing ONCE adjacent is no fit pre-
| paraton for an editors responsibilities. In no
other country 10 editorial labor 30 excessive, I'M
RENTED in this, where scissors to great extent
do duty instead of investigation and study, and
where the force Of editorial structures ia often OBJ
scured by the inaccuracy of reports and general
| sIovenliness of Management with regard to de-
tails"
| In no profession is division of labor more i'm
portant than in our own. The numerous read
ers of paper require variety of style and
subject which no one editor can furnish. Most
editors are prone to discuss those subjects in
which they excel. So long as this subject is
interesting to the public their articles are pop
ular. But fashion changes. Public interest is
transferred TO some other topic; and the able
writer on trade, or the public lands, is laid
aside for an exciting dispulation upon the mys-
terIes ofspirit rapping.
"ln happier days" an editor and subscribers
constituted family; the opinions of the editor
were never controverted by the argument of an
antagonist; his readers, like the enduring
hearers of some orthodox divine, listened to his
interminable expositons Of his own principles,
and never witnessed any comparison of opin-
ions unless when foeman Of straw was set up
to be triumphantly overthrown and demolished.
But the reign of the editorial essayist is over.
There is too much to read and too little
time to read it in. The contents of paper
must be fresh, brief, and varied The ten
dency is to throw off all generalities and come
at once to the material. Men read newspa pers
to post themselves as to facts, making their
own application without the aid of editorial
leading strings. This is is the paragraphic
era. Letters are read before leaders; and
group of readers will shy off from the arith
metical details soft a GLORIOUS victory" to laugh
at an Irish retort in a police office
But ability and information are indispensa-
bic in the conductor of the press. The i'm
mense enterprises of the day are so much con
nected with scientific facts, often with the
foreign policy of the Government, that jour
nal may often render its subscribers nvalu-
able service by geographical or geological
treatise, or by accurate Information regarding
our relations with foreign countries.
10 the conduct of the press, therefore, there
should be division of labor; editors should study
the various topics before the public, and should,
above all, cultivate the invaluable attributes of
accuracy and brevity.