Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-12-31

tnlS respect, Is always NaUIe to ueseSioto
one of the highest and noblest vocations,
and should never undertake to conduct a
journal in civilized community. The in
dividua who recklessly enters this profession,
most wolully mistakes his calling, and will
eventually be compelled to retire from field
of labor for which he is neither mentally or
morally fitted or qualified.
There is another duty devolving upon
those who conduct the press, which should
justly claim our attention. In endeavoring
to discharge it properly we should be gov.
erned by the same general rule already men.
toned, viz: that the public good and wei.
fare of society should be placed above all
other considerations. The duty to which |
refer is the exercise Of wise discrimina-
ton in the publication of articles from an
onymous correspondents. Indeed 20 cor
respondent should be unknown to the editor.
| do not regard a public journal as sort of
omnibus, where all who pay or contribute to-
its support have a right to jump in and ride,
without any reference whatever to the wei.
fare, comfort or happiness of others. L
hold that no correspondent, even should he
be my staunchest personal and political
friend, and subscriber for hundreds of CO..
pies of my paper, has thereby any pre.emp.i
ton claim to tie use of its columns for the
indulgence of private animosity or PERSONAL
abuse, and cannot think that one who
thoroughly understands the duties and re-.
sponsibilities of his position, as the manager.
of "a public journal, would ever consent to-
sell bis columns, be the price what it may,i
to any writer who has no higher object in
view than those just mentioned. ,.sl
In times of high political excitement this
evil in the management Of "a paper creeps in!
unawares. escaping the vigilance of the most.
experienced editor; but when,the boisterous!
claims of party do not dim bis usual clear
sightedness, and when the public good can-EE
not be subserved by the free use of the pen,
and pungency, satire, or ridicule, he ought
never to permit writer to wantonly assails
an opponent, or to tear him from the retire.
ment and endearments Of social and domes.!
tic life-to hold up to the rude gaze of a,
censorious world his foibles and weaknesses
that private malice may begrati6ed, or the
petty triumph of. a party or clique secured.
1t is proper to remark, however, that a:
Just discrimination between the advocacy off
political principle, and the mere brawling for.
party ascendency, should always be exer.;
cised. The public good is involved in the
legitimate discussion of principles; but the
disputes of party have seldom any higher
aim than the elevation of its members to
office or power-they are generally mere
squabblerS for the spois. Principles can be
freely firmly and thoroughly discussed with
out affecting the private character or repu:
tation of those whole hold tbem, while the
wrangling over the trumpery issues of merci
party soon degenerate into personal abuse
and scurrility between the opposing fac
tions or cliques. No press that has any
respect for its own character, or which fully
appreciates the dignity of its high position,
can lend its influence, at the expense of
truth and dccency, to aid in the elevation OF
any man or set Of men who can thus prosti.
tute principle and talent.
There are many bright spots, and there
are very many pleasant associations, found
in editorial life, and we could earnestly de.
sire that it was all made up Of friendly cour.
teses and kind rcciprocations, both among
its conductors and their readers. But we
regret to say it is not always thus. A few
lines written in haste, or during an excited
political campaign, have too often separated
best friends and brought trouble and sorrow
to many happy household. What is writ
ten, and printed and distributed carnot be
erased: It's not like word spoken in anger
or haste forgotten and forgiven
The printing machine has g iven it such
permanency and currency that time itselI
can scarcely effect the one, nor extent OF
country limit the other. 1t nay be written
as pleasantly, or be deemed justiiable re,
tort, yet that sentence may wound an af1ic.
ted spirit or goad to anger proud aud sen.
stive nature. Its consequences may be
such as were never dreamed of by the wri.
ter, and may return to himself with such an
accumulation Of evil as he never imagined
he would be called upon 10 suffer. 1t was
principle of an eminent statesman Of Ireland
that no political advantage was worth
crime, and this principle applies with as
much force 10 the conductor of public
journal as 10 the statesman. We may pro-
perly labor for political victory, and the
best feeling of our nature will induce us to
seek the appreciation of those around us, but
both will bo dearly purchased if acquired BY
dishonorable means, orif they bring with
them the knowledge that they have been
gained at the expense Of others peace, hap.
piness or reputation. Th.lt knowledge will
assuredly throw blighting influence over
ourselves, even in the brightest hours of our
triumph aud rejoicing.
1t is true that the stand point from which
an editor looks out on the busy world, and
the actors on that stage, affords him many
advantages, and supplies him with peculiar
facilities to be of service to his fellow-men !;
bat at the same time it invests him with a
responsibility which requires sound Judge.
mcnt, and living active moral principle to
rightly discharge the duties under its con-
troll We may not be able to say when we
come to lay down our pens that we never
wrote a line we would wish to see erased ;
for that perfection can scarcely be expected
amid the cares and labors of newspaper
office: but we may have the satisfaction of
knowing, when we come tolay aside these
cares and labors, that honesty of purpose
and purity of motive have ever guided our
pens and dictated our compositions. If we
car say this conscientiously, we must have