Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-06-04
0be Dailp bireiniau.
From tie Louisville Journal.


VINO EDIroRs as CANDIDATES ron Con-
aREss.-In three oil The Congressional districts
in Virginia. tho editors Of Wing papers have
recently been nominated as candidates for Con-
gress. Mr.. Moseley is the Wing candidate in
the Albemarle district. .Mr.Snowden in he dis
trict in which Alexandra lies, and Mr.. Sterre,
in the Parkersburg district. These gentlemen
have far more than the ordinary clai'As Of can.
didalcs on the people, and If the Virginians
should elect all Of them. such result would be
quite as honorable TO themselves as IL would
be to the editors.
AS very general rule there can bo no doubt
that the editors of newspapers are far more
thoroughly convcrsant with political question:
than mere readers of the newspaper. The
editor must read more than the candidate, and
besides he must read with reference to max
ing his mind treasury Of intelligence from
which he may draw in any cmergcbcy. SO
also, in some degree, policcal candidates
must read, bat the editor reads with reference
10 writing and printing his thoughts and con
victions, while the candidate is merely required
to have u smattering acquaintance with the
principles of political economy and the meas.
ures of parties The editor requires far more
precision of thought and accuracy of informa-
what is written is more valuable and correct
han what is spoken. As a general rule. editors
lire far more intelligent on political as well ss
l,ther topics than candidates are, and hence, il
editors wish to go TO Congress, it is an exer
Use of wisdom on the part of the community
10 send them there.
The speeches of politicians are not often re-
lnarkable for originality or force of thought.
They are for the most part feeble in matter and
re redeemed from contempt only by some
orce of manner. Such speeches are generally
,'ambl ing and discursve and illogical. and would
e printed be a source of much merrimcnt to lit.
tle boys and girls who have got 80 far ahead as
to be able to distinguish what is grammatical
Speeches that are rendered ludicrous by blum.
lers of language and absurdites in tho exam
nation Of principles are those that are most fre
luent Such orators ought 10 be restricted 10
Village debating clubs, for, when their elo-
Iluence is heard in higher places, 1t is painful to
l.ll men OF real education and taste in an emi-
nent degree.
The superior intelligence possessed by cdi.
tors would keep them from the commission of
plumbers which many candidates commit with
i'm air Of very decided superiority. Their
speeches will certainly have more point and
Hiroctness than those of mere politicians. He
who Is in the habit Of thinking accurately y. as
editors are must speak with fa' more accura.
cy han others do who are in the habit ofthink'
ing loosely. The editor furnishes the poti-
,ian with the pabulum Of thought. In news
papers. subjects of interest are started and
thoroughly discussed long before politicians
discuss them on the stump. The editor there
fore is earliest in examining the bearings and
relations of subjects, and has clear comprc'
hension of them long before the political spea
ker's attention is called TO them. The editor
thus becomes tho teacher of the politician
moulding his thoughts and comforting on hin
opinions ready made TO his hand.
The truth is, editors are to some extent th'
great preceptors of a nation. They do thu
thinking of the intelligent readers, as well az
for the masses on whose minds the light of O
new truth is slow to dawn. The newspaper
may be defined as tho volume from which the
community derives large portion OF its intel
ligence as well as those opinions that move u
nation to dare and to do many deeds OF peril ,or
to undertake those lofty enterprises from which
proceed the truest glory and the highest pros.
perity. Gillies remarks. in the conclusion OF
his Grecian history, that opinions govern the
world and they proceed from the few. Ad
nitting the business Of this remark. 1t may be
truly added that of the few who introduce new
and valuable opinions editors form consider
able proportion.
In thus speaking in what by some may be
styled the language of panegyric of editors, we
of course, design to confne our eulogy to q
few leading members Of the profession. The
majority Of editors are incapable of originality
or even profound views or thoroughly ex
pored subjects. It is the few who lead the ma
jority of editors. tits the business of the ma
ny to come up as near to model as practica.
bic. An editor fitted to adorn his vocation
must ofnecessty DO what the Germans call a
many sided man. His mind must be rich
with knowledge. 1t must be repertory OF
facts and principles in all the various promi'
ncnt studies to which men addict themselves.
1t should contain thorough knowledge ofhs'
tory-an enlarged acquaintance with the phi
losophies, sciences, and arts--should have the
power of rapidly calling up at any moment its
multifarious requirements and applying them
to the enrichment or illustration of any partic
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