Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-08

goad to anger prcud ana sensitive nature
Its consequences may be such as were never
dreamed of by the writer, and may return
to himself with such an accumulation of ev
as he never imagined he would be called
upon to suffer. It was a principle of an
eminent statesman Of Ireland that no poiti
cal advantage was worth crime, and this
principle applies with as much force to the
conductor Of public journal as to the states
man. We may properly labor for political
victory, and the best feelings of our nature
will induce us to seek the appreciation Of
those around US, 1t 10th will be dearlyp ypur,
chased if acquired by dishonorablc means,
or if they bring with them the knowledge
that they have been gained at the expense
of auother's peace, happiness and reputation.
That knowledge will assuredly throw blight
ing influence over ourselves, even in the
brightest hours OF our triumph and rejoi,
cling.
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 ;
but at the same time it invests him with a
responsibility which requires sound judg-
meut, wise discretion, and living active
moral principle to rightly discharge the du-
ties under its control. We may not be able
to say when We come to lay down our pens
that we never wrote line we would wish to
see erased; for that perfection can scarcely
be expected amid the cares and labors of a
newspaper office; but we may have the sat
isfactun Of knowing, when we come to lay
aside these cares and labors, that honesty of
purpose and purity of motive have ever gui-
ded our pens and dictated our compositions.
If We can say this couscientiously, we must
have been instrumental in effecting some
good And if all who have now the charge
of the public journals of the country were
to ceave to this rule of conduct, who dare
not believe that we would be more successful!
in accomplishing the great mission of the
press? Who can measure the extent of the
results to society and to the country were its
journalism purged Of every unworthy men,
Der, and controlled entirely by men of in
tellect, high moral frmness and unsulled
integrity? When that day in the annals of
journalism arrives, the country will be safe,
and will make more rapid progress in the
great work of securing the stability of her
republican institutions than she has done in
the four-score years Of her independence as
nation.
A few words now III ,lation to our peri
odical literature, and the manner in which
that of the South has been supported by her
people. Numerous attempts have been made,
and much money expended, in efforts to es-
tablish Southern literary papers and periodi-
calls, but where, throughout the record to
day, can be found any evidences of their
success? The Southern Quarterly Review in
its last issue publishes "ji;nol appeal" " to
its subscribers and the public for support
it so rightcously deserves. The Southern
Literary Messenger, although one Of the old
est and among the best conducted monthlies
of the day, receives very inadequate sup
port. Literary papers have been started in
Charleston, Augusta and Columbia, but they
had only brief and poverty stricken e. :
ence-are now dead and forgotten. Otner
efforts are still being made to build up q Pc
riodical literature of our own-but with what
success time alone can determine. Notwith-
standing this condition of affairs, our people
are reading people. Harpers, Putnams
and Graham's Magazine, and host of lit
crary and so-called "family papers" pub
lished at the North, count their thousanr
upon thousand of readers in the Southern
States. Indeed it would appear that the
word " Southern" inscribed on the title
page of periodical or journal is sufficient
to ensure its failure. Who can solve this
mystery-who explain this strange inconsis!
tency? 1t is not because the talent is wan
ting, for the records of literature will show
enough of that commodity at the South.
We have thought of one cause of the de-
pressed condition of our periodical pnblica-
tions, and it is this-it is that talent is not
freely enough given to sustain the efforts of
Southern publishers. 1t may be said talent
finds better market at the North than here
that the old and well established periodi-
calls there can and do pay better than those
at the South. Admitted; but Southern
writers should not be entirely mcrccnary
when patriotism and devotion to the South
and her institutions claim some pecuniary
sacrifice. Divide that sacrifice with the en-
terprising, but struggling publisher, and
relieve to some extent from the necessity of
going to other sources to procure literary
matter for his publication. Let our native
talent arouse from its unpatriotic indiffer-
encc, and give hearty cooperation to every
deserving effort put forth to build up liter
ature of our own. Let that literature bear
the impress of Southern genius, thus giving
it, aye, a sectional tone and character, and
we will then be relieved from an entire de-
rendence on that of section, whose press,
as whole, is inimical to us, and whose voice
as people has so recently and SO emphati-
cally pronounced against us and our institu
tions.
But literary contributions alone will not
ensure success. The brightest intellects of
the day may enrich the columns of our peri
odical press but if the means to secure such
talent, or to give the literary efforts now be-