Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-06-23


will come in the appreciation of his OWL
conscience, when, at the close Of life's pill,
: grinage, he takes long retrospect Of
the labors of the past, and sees not amidst
them all
Gone line which, dying he would wish to blot"
i Closely allied to this characteristic is that
of independence. 1t is not less mans
duty than his right to form his principles
from sense of their correctness, and as
sert them without fear If there be man
living whose prerogative it is to claim po-
sition as an equal of his fellow man, it. is
the upright, conscientious, fearless and in
dependent editor 1t is his daily business
to pass in review the shifting scenes of the
panorama of the world, to discuss the great
principles that lie at the foundation Of the
government, to ponder the acts of men in
power, and scrutinize the secret springs OF
human action. In the exercise of these
functions he may often come in conflict
with men aspiring to, or already occupy
ing positions of influence or of power, but
even this should not deter him from the
faithful discharge of his duty. The path
| of the sycophant may be smoother, and
carry one forward over gentle slopes, and
along flowery wales, and by purling streams,
but the path ofindependence is that of hon
or.
An interesting lesson has been left on
record in characteristic anecdote of our
great prototype, Benjamin Franklin
"Soon after the establishment of the Penn
sylvania Gazette, in 1929, he found occa-
sion to remark with some degree of free
dom on the public conduct of one or two
persons of high standing in Philadelphia.
| This course was disapproved by some OF
his patrons, who sought an opportunity to
convey to him their views of the subject,
and what they represented to be the opn-
ion of his friends. He listened patiently
and replied by requesting that they would
favor him with their company at supper,
and bring with them the other gentlemen
who had expressed dissatisfaction. The
; time arrived, and the guests assembled
He received them cordially. and listened
again to their friendly reproofs of his ed
| itorial conduct. At length supper was an
nounced; but, when the guests had seated
, themselves around the table, they were sur.
prised to see nothing before them but two
buildings, made of coarse meal, called sag
: dust pu7dings in the common phrase, ami
a stone pitcher filled with water. He help.
ed them all, and then applied himself 10 hi,
own plate, partaking freely of the repast,
> and urging his friends to do the same
: They. taxed their polteness to the utmost
5 but all in vain; their appetites refused ODE
/, dience to the will. Perceiving their diff
| Guilty, Franklin at last arose and said, IN,
: friends. any one who can subsist upon saw
dust pudding and water, as can, need,
no mans patronage"
An Indispensable virtue in the profession
is industry. It's the sine qua non of sue
cess, and its practice is indicated not Sc
much in the number of columns of leadeC
matter weekly or daily dished up for th
readers OF the press, in the evidences o
thought and of accuracy they present. Il
other words the quality of labor is tn
standard of value rather than the amount
I The peculiar style of composition is, leas
of all of consequence. but conciseness an,
accuracy are attainable by every -whc
undertakes to WELD pen. And he ha
little right to assume to dictate opinions t.
the world, who will not take pains to form
opinions of his own, and to fortify then
with the proper array of facts. The lands
man who should take the helm of an oceal
, steamer to guide it through the perils of tht
sea, would not be more out of place thar
he who attempts to mould and direct tn
popular sentiment, without an industriou
,, investigation of the subjects upon which
he treats. Eis rs
There is no plac for drones in the pro
fession. OF whatever service they may b.
in the economy of nature, it is patent t.
every one that they were never designed
to occupy the editorial tripod Indeed th
life of an editor is one of continual occa
pation--how pouring over the latest arri
vafs, wading through endless columns o
{ news, scissors in hand, seeking in bye pla
, ees for the Juicy and piquant paragraph
and now committing to paper the reflection
of his own mind for the edifcation of hi,
readers. Todo all these things well re
quires more versatility of talents, more in
! Edustry, more profound Thought, more
!, sprightliness, and L may add, more integ-
|, rity, than to fill a seat in Congress or al
Executive chair And if Industrious hab.
its best protect MS from the paths of wick
{ edness, and best promote good actions, ther
should our profession be'of all others tn,
most virtuous. 81 ai' le. DaG -f.
The editors life is one of unremittne
toil-the business of the week is scarcely
over before that of the next begins, and er,
the last sheet drops fresh from the press
the inexorable demand for copy is heard
r the door. His constant round of duties
leave little time for recreation or repose.-
: He is in fact the old gray horse upon tn,
: treadmill, liable to be drawn under by tn,
: machinery, and to lose the scent of hi
n provender, if he suffers his energies to flag
and ceases to keep step to the music I'll
C must go if the world stands still, and,
| might almost add, he must 60 or the worlc
G would indeed ceaseitsrevolution
s 1t is common but mistaken idea tha
: almost any man gifted in chirography pos
It ses the capacity and qualifications neccs
g sary in an editor. Such was the mis.ak
: once made by a worthy deacon, who o'ha,
- L., :. -,,f ,,,,Ja. flat IL