Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-03-01
EnIronIAL. CONVENTION


Cincinnati Gazette, Tor the many excellent
suggestions ii contains to EDITORS aud read.
ers: t 4f NJ
The State Journal, OF Thursday, contains
an appca. to the editors Of Ohio who have
not contributed their quota towsrds defraying
the expense Of publishing the proceedings
and address Of the late Editorial Convention
Of Zanesville, to do SO at their earliest con-
veneuee. The editors, who were present
paid their share, one dollar each, and il the
brotherhood throughout the State will do as
much, the address Of Mr. Cogeeshsll, the po-
EN- of Mr.. Chester, and the proceedings gem
orally Of the convention, will appear in a
neat volume in a form for preservation. Col.
Harris, Of the Ohio Cultivator, at Columbus,
is the treasurer Money inclosed in a letter
addressed to him viii be pepefs taken care
Of. ris 80 ~ .i
We sincerely hope that syery editor in the
State will contribute his ral tie for SO laudable
purpose. Those whods will be entitled TO
receive copy of the volume; and we assure
our friends that they will find much good and
cur ious matter in the yelume, relating to
newspaperdom, of much greater value than
one dollar,
The convention ct Evansville was one OF
the mos, pleasant gatherings we ever at
tended, and we hope that at the next meet
ing every editor in Ohio will be in attend
ance.. We have noticed with surprise that
opposition has arisen amsng potion Of the
press to these conventions; and they ask
what good do thay, OF will they do We BE-
lieve they have already done good, AMI If
continued yearly they will do much more -
They do good in various ways, but chiefly in
making gentlemen connected with the press
acquainted with each e.her they wear og the
wire edge of political strife; they produce
kind personal relations between gentlemen
engaged in the same pursuits, though opposed
to each ether on State and National sub
jecis, The chief objections raised against
the newspaper press Of our country is its
gross personality. These conventions will
do much to uproot that defect. Social inter-
course is great liberalizer. Many hasty
word will be left out of an editorial, when
we know the parties to whom it is intended
to apply. Tne press ever degrades itse!i
when il resorts to personalities, and as they
are discarded, SO the. press viii rise in i'm
portance, influence andvaue.
These conventions are alss valuable, from
the amour Of information which they difiuse
There is hardly aL editor who does net gain
some useful facts, connected Sith his pro-
fessiun, during twelve months. At the
GAINESVILLE convention -snNey iusefni hints
were thrown out, relative to printing, adver-
tising, and the general manner o. doing bu-
siness Ths resolutions which were passed
embody many good thoughts, and ,hey have
been copied Far beyond The borders of our
own State. 1t is notorious, that the news.
paper editors and publishers have lost more
by bad debts than those engaged in any 9th.
er profession or calling. 1t is important
therefore, that the system of cash payments
should be adopted, and strictly carried out as
far as practicable, and at the earliest possi-
BILE moment. A reform like this, thorough
ly carried out, would be of incalculable ben-
eff, to those whose business extends far ou.-
siGe Of their own immediate locality. The
pre-pa or cash system is gaining ground
rapidly No great reform has ever been sue
cessful at first. Time is required; union Is
necessary, csnstitutionis nscessary; combi-
nation is necessary; and w,idt SO good as the
annual convention TO accomplish these ends! {!
Again: the editorial conventions can be
made the means OF doing much good in a So
cial way; for We are believers in the social
virtues Aneditor's life is one continuous,
never-ending turmoil. II he hoes his duty,
and is worthy of his position, he mus. wage
undying war against public malfeasanoe and
official corruI ton. His duty is not performed
Unless he ibculcates the principles of
religion and virtue, manly sentiment, honor,
integrity, temperance, frugali'y, and inde-
pendeuoe, ana in all proper ways dffuse
knowledge among men, To do these bold
ly and with honest intention, the task is not
an easy one. The antagonisms Of these
are selfishness, corruption, meanness, ard
bold unblushing villainy. If an editor does
his duty he may expect to meet these scowl-
ing malignant spirit at each turn of his road;
bu. hs will, ir the end, ie true to his high
calling, conquer and aessEoy- them. Such
being his manner Of BUSINESS he requires,
at in,ervals reayation innocent social plea
su-es; and what can be more c0pgenial than
day or two spent in convention with his
fellow laborers in the public vineyard, to talk
over the past, consult over the future, have
good supper or dinner, have good sentiments,
short speeches, witty toasts, conundrums,
good end bad, and perhaps various assort-
ment of songs, puns, and poetry, We say
thee is much good in these things. They
sweelen life, and they prolong it.
Again: who SO poor as the editors, take
them as body! 1t is not because they do
not work. No class of men work harder;
none such long hours. Their work is never
done; and yet they seldom are rich. Their
names do not appear among the tax payers
who pay heavy taxes They are not troub-
led with long schedules of houses anG lots.--
Their rent rolls nre only known to them as
presented quarterly by their landlords with
an in,imaton, that, ifssnyenient, he would
be pleased to have the money to-day They
take an interest in the price Of stocks only
for,the information of others; personally it
has no mere interest to the editor than last
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