Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-30
THE GAZETTE.
MORNING, MARCH 80, 1858.
JOURNALISM.

JOURNALISM.
The Philadelphia Bulletin has some ex-
cellent remarks on American Journalism,
from which we make the following extract;
"Tbe greatest of all nuisances to respect
able editor. are those small minded gentry
who believe that the mission OF journal Is
not In disseminate news, and to aid buyers
and sellers by advertisements, but to be per-
petuslly "pitching in" to this or that subject;
more generally into this or that individual.
Such characters are generally very loud and
talkative specimens of the genus irritable,
prone to hint that they could carry on a journal
with ell its difficult details much better than
anybody else in the country; that they would
"stir up tbinge," and that their firm belief
is, that all paper needs is "pepper" to make
it excellent. We can imagine, as we write,
that We even now hear the familiar accents:
"Now iust rant you to write an article ana
give so and 80 fts"-for men of this descrip-
ton are generally gifted with degree OF as
sursnce which respects no duty or dignny'
and suffers the possessor to believe that MS
miserable fancies will actually receive con-
alteration. And vet we can say with truth
that we never met with one OF these ad7o-
Gates ofindiscriminate pepper" and abuse,
who would not writhe with agony at the
fsintsst allusion to himself in type which
fell short of fattery, or who was not IN TACT
q coward.
Men who put faith in abuse as a necessary
element in journalism, who take no interest
in articles which are not in some way per-
sonal, aud who relish no "fun" unless 1t
outs, are invariably vulgar and selfish, Just
in proportion to the degrees in which such
tastes prevail with them. 1t is melancholy,
however, to see the number Of them in every
community, and the degree to which they OFT
en- succeed in inspiring writers for the press
with their own spirit"
The Bulletin is right, so far as its re-
marks go-but it might have gone great
deal farther, with entire safety. 1t should
have laid down the general rule that
newspaper is usually the property OF the
editor, subject altogether to his control,
and that suggestions in regard to "pitch-
ing in," are no more allowable than sug'
gss,ions in regard to anything else COM
ing within the range ofjournalism. Friend
" advice, offered in spirit of kindness to
an editor, is never unacceptable. But
merely captious objections to something
that has appeared, or impertinen: sugges-
tons as to what should appear, are more
calculated perhaps to irritate and annoy the
Journalist, than anything else he has to en-
counter in his career.
The rule in such things should be that
which Is dictated by common sense. IT
man does not like his paper, his remedy does
not consist 10 complaints, but in stoppage.-
If the paper is not acceptable to him, let
him withdraw his name from the list of sub
scription. This is plain and simple RENE
DIV. which would be far more acceptable to
the journalist than constant suggestions as
IN what should be DONE and what should not
be. 40 editor caters to the instruction and
Amusement of O vast circle of readers, OF all
pursuits and professions. The presumption
ought to be allowed, that he understands his
business better than an outsider. At any
rate. inssmuch as be alone is to be the sui
ferer il he does not, the request does not ap-
mar An unreasonable one, that he be allow
ed. a. Mr.. Douglas said in the Kansas Bill,
to regulate his affairs "in bis own way, sub
iect only to" the Requirements OF morality
and good taste.
What the Bulletin says about the desire OF
q certain class of readers that an editor
should always be "pitching in" to some body,
will not be considered by any journalist as
at all extravaganza or beyond the truth
There is class of readers whom nothing de-
Lights more than gross personalities IN the
press, and constant infusion OF spice
and "pepper" into editorial comments. A
fight or two occasionally would please them
prodigiously-and it is remarkable TACT
that these men always consider themselves
badly cheated unless some one is either kill
ed or wounded-and are always prepared to
or;ticise with extraordinary severity, the per-
eonal prowess of the combatants--Dever hes
itatipe to impute gross cowardice to them
unless they either kill or arc killed. Yet, IN
nine cases out of ten, these are the very men
whom no sort of provocation could force TO
the redress Of a wrong-wbo would skuik In
gloriously at the first demonstration OF NOS
t;Iity towards themselves-spd who, not sub
;eot 20 the requirements of honor, are yet the
most rigid ia their criticisms of the conduct
of those who recognise such amenabllity--
Thew will read the personal correspon-
dence" in a newspaper with most malcions
acumen, declaimiDg perhaps upon the COW
ardice" of that which is in fact. the highest
exhibition of brsvery-the withdrawal OF an
offensive expression which subsequent events
have shown to be unfounded. Such men
must acknowledge their own responsibility
in every maner known, before their com
ments upon the conduct of others can De
treated with any other Feeling than that OF
MISUNDERSTANDING Ir.
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