The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-25

he calling Of the public journalist. Blot
The Newspapers from the face Of the
Earth, and darkness deeper than that
which spread over the valley Of the Nile,
would hang DER all the land for il
would be the pail OF intellectual death.
Ignorance and superstition would again
be enthroned, where now dwell the purest
aspirations OF the immortal soul.
There is scarce hamlet where civiliza.
ton has left her ioot. prints, that is desti.
tutc Of the omuipresent Newspaper. Go
where you will, from the palace Of the |
King 10 the humblest cot in the land, and
the Newspaper is considered as essential
to feed the intellect, as the rarest dainties
are TO crafty the taste, or satisfy the de-
mands Of hunger.
Like any other necessity Of lie, the
Newspapers is often valued by its rarity.
In new countries, where Uncle Sans
slow coach passes through the town but
once a week. the desire to read the viii
lage paper almost becomes mania
and urgent indeed would be the call that
would cause il 10 be laid aside, until its
contents had been thoroughly treasured in
the mind. once knew young back.
woodsman, who every Wednesday, at
the sound Of the dinner horn, would run
full tilt of half mile with his two
brothers, leaving their father to plod along
at his leisure, for the purpose Of de'erinin-
ing who should FIRST read the Village
Newspaper; and when, as was sometimes
the case, the paper failed 10 come, the
disappointment pictured on each counle.
mace, told palmer than words can tell,
the priceless value with which it was es-
.imated by the back woods boys. This
illustrates not the opinion OF few, but Of
thousands yea, tens OF thousands, who,
from reading the we'll filed columns of a
Newspaper, gain ideas, which. maturing
as manhood develops. form the foundation
OF careers ending in we'll spent lives.
Such being the influence which radi-
ates from the public press, let me briefly
consider some Of the characteristics, or
more properly, the qualifications which
every editor should possess, 10 order to
secure for his journal that wide range Of
wholesome influence, which it should be
his constant aim 10 secure. AS the opin-
ions Of an editor have a wider range Of
| circulation than those Of any other class
of persons. il is essential that he should
possess liberal share of general inform
alton and discriminating Judgment. He
often collales the current events OF the
day under tho familiar caption Of Seen.
eral Intelligence !" and if he should no;
himself possess that particular qualiGca-
ton indicated by the caption I have quo.
ted, how can he be expected to fill his
columns with matter that will either in
tercst or improve bis readers : A knowl.
edge Of the classics is not indispensable,
but as an essential qualification, he should
have at least, "good horse sense"-a
phrase, perhaps, that has more signii.
canoe than elegance. He who u'es the
scissors, is required TO exercise as much
Judgment, as he who wields the pen
Every editor then should be a well
informed man.
| Again, every editor should be honest
You need not smile, my brethren OF The
quill, for though such u seemingly absurd
proposition may never have occurred tc
you, tell you OF a truth the honesty G
some editors has been questioned ant
that, too, by persons OF intelligence anC
moral worth. The fact that statement
which are not true, will find their wa,
into the columns of the most honorabl,
conducted newspapers. through the yer.
, laudable desire 10 furnish the latest news
l affords no excuse for knowingly msrepre
. senting any fact, however unimportan
it may be. An editor who will do that
soon finds his proper level in the estima
!, ,ion OF all intelligent readers. There ar
some men, even in the ministry, VIII
/ bring reproaGh upon their calling, by act
at variance with the gospel they preten'
s to preach, and repulsive to the true splri
=, of Christianity. Such ministers seldom
tarry long in place, for their garb G
! sanctity fails to conceal the c!oven foot
!, which the people readily recognize a
a the appendage of a messenger accredite
' from a region very different from tina
D where angels dwell. So with dishones
: editors. Their career is brilliant, bu
t brief. They are continual "squabble.
t Their "cases' excite commiseralion.- =
= They soon get short of "quoin," an
/ after being sorely pressed by popula
I indignation, and giving sufficient ''proof
of not being Justified" the sheriff levie
!. on their "bank," and "chases" them on
: o! town, with the "devil's tail" whiskin
!. at their heels. Such is generally "th
o end" Of dishonest editors.
Again, every editor should possess tn
! rare quality of independence-back' bone,
. YOU please. The press should not b
r merely the reflector of public sentiment
p. The enunciator OF other mems opinions
: for they are SO varied and conflicting
5, that an attempt to reconcile them woul
!, puzzle the most experienced professor
! the science of metaphysics. The editc
: ! should have well.detined opinions, COT
J. cerniug all questions OF public intcres
Y whether OF a political, social, or NOR
) character. In forming those opinions
y he should remember that if be errs, th
% minds Of many thousands may be le
70 into the same error; for with many I
y y his readers, his opinion is "the end
~ the law" He should feel a consciousne
~ within his own breast that he is right
3. and armed with this weapon. which,
contest with error is invincible. he shou
,s proclaim his sentiments with unainchir
q. zeal, even il the denunciations OF an opp