The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-10-13
TIE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC.

Under this caption the Philadelphia Ledg-
er publishes an excellent article. In these
days of venality, when nine-tenths of the
press is pandering to or are controlled by
party, local, or selfish interests-in many in
stances the mere echo of individuals and
individual interest-it is refreshing and en-
couraging to meet with such sentiments as are
marked below:
Scarcely year passes that some occasion
does not arise to test the fidelity of the press.
| Indeed, it is often disheartenng to the true
patriot to see the facility with which news
papers sacrifice truth and justice to a misera-
bic expediency. Itwould really seem as if
editors generally had no sense of the respon-
sbilities Of their position, but were ready,
like the venal condortori of the middle ages,
to fight for whatever cause promised the best
pay.
Yet such a course is rs fatal 10 the perma-
nent success of the journal as TO the charac-
ter of The proprietOrs and the cause of truth
The public soon discovers who are impartial.
1t detects rs speedily who knuckle to the
times. In the one it places reliance; from
the other it wthdraws its trust. The great
mass of readers have no interests but those
of truth to serve, and they turn with disgust
away from those who betray it for "mess
of pottage" To veer and change with eve
ry delusion of the day; to cry up things and
persons this year which the same columns
will denounce the next this is not the course
to win the confidence of an intelligent COM
munty, much less to discharge the response
Bile duties of nm editor,
The honest journalist, on tho other hand,
never forgets that his position covers him
with responsibilities, from which he cannot
escape if he would He knows that what
ever he writes will have an Influence, either
for good or for i'll. lie feels therefore, that
it is his duty to adhere to the truth, no matter
what the temptation to betray or conceal it.
Neither his personal animositics nor his indi.
vidual friendships are ever allowed to influ-
ence his published opinions. He considers
it as base to WELD his journal to avenge his
private wrongs, as would be for giant to
assail dwarf, or an armed man to attack an
unarmed one. He deems it as Infamous to
hire his colemns secretly to favor public
job, or to advance his own interest at the eX-
pense the public, rs it would be to specu-
late in office, or take brides as a legislator
lie thinks it no justification of treachery to
truth, that it is demanded by the cry of
mob, for the abandonment is not the less
cowardly, because made to bloody Jugger-
naut. In word, he acts from principles has
a manly carriage, and is above the weakness
OF giving way to prejudice, such n journalist
finds, at last, and without ever unworthily
seeking it, that he has obtained firm found
alton in the public esteem; and when the
winds rise and the rains fall, and the floods
come, he stands mistaken through all, for he
has built upon a rock.
We know that the truth is often unpaat.
BILE. We are aware that injury is frequently
done, by insisting on what is just, sin season
and out of season." But it is not necessary
to be fanatic in order to escape being trai
tor. There is always proper mean to be
observed, whether for the well.bred gentle
man, the wise statesman, or the honest iourn-
alist. Violence and rant are as iniudicious
as they are unseemly. The stoutest advO-
Gates of truth have generally been the most
decent in its advocacy. A newspaper gains
nothing by being intolerant or abusive,
though in the most righteous cause. Even
to turn evil for evil is neither honorable nor
right. There is always future coming, be-
fore whose bar every act is to be tried, and
by n panel which will have no sympathies
with the prejudices of the present. To that tr-
bunal the press should ever look. The con-
slant inquiry OF the journalist should be-
"what will be thought of me by the impair
tal future I"