Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-16
RIGHTS OF JOURNALISM.

The relations of publishers to the public have
never been accurately defined. The terms,
'our organ" patronage" support" &C., as
applied to newspapers by those who read them,
convey not only an inaccurate, but an untruth-
full idea of their real mission. They leave the
impression that the obligations of publishing
are all on one sde-that the public is gracious,
condescending, "patron" izing, and that pub
fishers have no other work to do than to find
out and follow its whims, its prejudices, and
its many-minded command. Rights and duties,
which are correlative and inseparable in every
other profession-which are part of Heavens
own plan of compensation-seem to be entirely
separated when we have any thing to do with
publishers. Duties enough are claimed, to be
sure; but there are no terms in general use to
indicate that they have any corresponding
rights. This may not be the fixed public opin-
ion, but it is the proper inference to be drawn
from the loose and inaccurate phrases in which
their relations to the profession are expressed.
In merely mechanical journalism, simple
records of changes, casualty, and crime, the
collection and arrangement of so many arrests,
so many accidents, and so many murders, per
day, there is little, if any, more responsibility.
than in any other mechanical employment.
But in the more elevated branches of the pro-
fession, in which opinions are matured and ex-
pressed, where public morals are guarded, and
public conduct is approved or condemned, there
are responsibilities which every honest journal
list is sacredly bound to respect, according to
his oo0n conscience and the light which is
given him. Yet this is the very field oftenest
invaded by fastidious and exacting patrons"
looking at once in more directions than Argus,
with all his eyes, could see, and making demands
which nothing less than omnipotence could fulfil.
Some are not satisfied when this department Of
journalism reflects the average public opinion;
it is too time-serving. Others are not satisfied
when it goes before as pioneer; it is too rad
ical. And when the test comes, as come it
must, and the journalist consults his own con-
science for advice and guidance, one of the
classes manufactures a brief, though trouble
some storm, as if they had been personally
outraged, and their rights maliciously disre-
garded
1t is a slight mistake 1t rises from misap-
prehension of the relations of journalism to
life, rather than from design. Men do not, by
change of professions sacrifice their capacity
to think or their right to speak. There is
nothing in the publishers profession, requir-
ing forfeiture of his independence or his man
hood. In assuming the advocacy Of the lead
ing measures of an organization Or party, he
does not lose his right to criticise and disap
prove any of the details of its policy. He is a
poor officer, who does not bear the rod of cor
rection as well as the ornamental badge of his
calling. 1t is often pleasant to be swayed and
bent by popular pressure. The motions of
the willow are more graceful than those of the
oak But the roots of the oak strike deeper,
and its branches reach nearer Heaven.