Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-06-29
More Editors Appointed to once.


We begin to fear the Democratic portion Of
the editorial corps is to be entirely broken
up, SO many of its members are being called
upon to take office under the present Nation
al Administration. All over the country We
notice that our brethren of the quill and scis-
sors are laying them down in order to accept
of Foreign Missions, Custom House and Post
Office appointments, and other stations of e.
molument and influence which have been ten.
dered by the Administration at Washington,
and they are quitting the fraternity in order
to accept of them. We are fearful that when
the next Presidential canvass comes on, and
the hosts of the opposition are to be encoun.
tered, that the Democratic Press win sadly
miss the services Of some of the able and ex-
pericnced writers whose stirring appeals to the
Democracy in exciting campaigns have power
fully contributed, by the energy and zeal which
they have infused into the ranks, to the sue
cess of the party upon those occasions.
We do not know, either, about TIE editors
coming doun from the editorial chair to accept
OF these offices, for they certainly owe some
thing to the honor and dignity Of the profess
sion. We know that editors are generous indi.
viduals, willing to do almost anything that will
contribute to the advancement Of The interests
Of the public; and that, as the latter demand
that the Office should be filled by the best and
msst1cspable men, the fraternity are willing to
Do q that they can tol6Arry out Che wishes
of the people in that respect, bytaking them
Themselves. 1t is natural that the people and
the Administration entertaining these views
about capacity. should turn their attention to
the editorial corps, among whom they are
the most likely TO find persons of the stamp
required. We have not been surprised at the
great number Of appointments that have heen
rendered the editorial corps; that was, per-
haps, to be expected under the circumstances
we have described. Our only establishment has
been that SO many could reconcile 1t with their
sense of honor and duty as to accept these
public positions, so much inferior to their pre-.
vious stations.
But The fact that they have done SC, only proves
the humility and self sacrificing spirit of edi.
tors which does not allow them to consider
self in any case where it comes in opposition
to the interests of the public. At the call Of
the people, expressed through their admins
trative agents, editors are willing to forget all
their bright hopes of the future-to leave
profession the paths of which are more thick
ly strewn with public honors than ever were
the shades of Vallambrosa by forest leaves, to
say nothing of the pecuniary profits which all
editors know are immense and cross the ocean
as Foreign Minister and Consul, going into
state of homo rable Punishment as it were, at
salary of $4,000 year, or even 10 discharge
the more arduous duties Of Collector of Gus.
toms and Postmasters, though the principal
reward that the latter get is the ipgrattude of
the communities which they serve. Yes, ed.
itors possess the patriotism that enables them
to do all discriminating themselves, as it
were. upon the altar Of public good.
Nor is this patriotism of rare occurrence, as
the list of editors we published short time
since will bear us witness. With a self. sacri.
ficing spirit which we cannot but admire, al.
though we consider 1t somewhat derogatory to
the honor of the profession, our friends Of the
press do not decline these official statone, their
sense of public duty outweighlng all private
considerations Nay, more, such is their ex
IRENE modesty, a trait of character for which
the editorial fraternity are justly celebrated,
that they do not imagine that in thus serving
the public in good paying offices they are con.
fering favor upon it, a fact which enhances
the merit of their acceptance. So great is the
humility of the profession, that it has been
heretofore unusual Tor an editor to condesend to
leave his position as the conductor of public
journal and take seat in Congress, nDtwith-
standing the loss of reputation he would be
likely to sustain by connection with that
honorable body. Such instances, however,
we rejoice to believe are becoming somewhat
more rare than formerly. Editors are be-
ginning to have little too much pride TO ac-
cept Of that position under any circumstances
whatever.-Cincinnati Enquirer.