Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-02-02

address before the recent Editorial convention
at Painesyille, by O. @. wAsHBuRS Of the
Elyria Democrat. ..t..
Every editor should be honest. You
Deed not smile, my brethren of the quill, for
though such seemingly absurd proposition
may never have occurred to you, tell you
OF truth the honesty Of some editors bas
been questioned aud that two by persons
OF intelltgFnee and moral worth. The fact
that statements which renot true, will end
their way into the coIums Of the most honora.
bly, conducted newspapers, through the very
laudable desire to furnish the latest news.
alters no excuse for knowingly misrepressnt.
ing any fact, however unimportsnt 1t may
be. An editor who will dotbat, soon aads
his proper level in the estimation Of all in.
telligent readers. There. are some men,
eEen 10 the ministry, who bring reproach
upon their calling, by sets at varisuce with
the gospel they pretend to preach, and re-
DulsiEe to the true spirit Of Christianity.
Such ministers seldom tsrry long iu a place,
rtheir garb OF sanetity fails to conceal
the cloven foot, which the people readily re-
eoguize as the appendage Of messenger &C.
credited from region very different from
that where angles dwell SO With dishonest
editors. Their career is brilliant, bat brief.
They are 10 continual ''souabbfe." Their
ceases" excite commiseration. They soon
get short Of "quoin,n and after being sorely
''pressedR by popular indignation, and Civ.
Ing sufficient proof" Of not being justified"
the sheriff levies on their 'bsnk,n aud
''chases' them cot Of town. with the devils
tail" whisking at their heels. Such Is gene.
rally "the end" Of dishonest editors.
Again every editor should possess the
rare quality Of Independence bone. il
you please. The press should net be mere
ly the reflector Of public sentimeut--tbe
enuuciator Of other mems opinions, for they
are so varied and conflicting, that an, at.
tempt to reconcile them would puzzle tbe
most experienced professor Ia the scieuce
Of metaphysics. The editor should have
wellds6ned opinions, concerning all ques.
tons of public interest, whether of 20.
| liticsl, social, or moral character In form.
ing those opinions. he should remember
that If be errs, the minds Of many thousands
may be led into the same error for with
many of bis readers, his opinion is 1.-The end
of the law" he should feel conscious.
ness within bis own breast that be is right:
aud armed with this weapon, which, ia con.
test with error Is iuvincible, he should pro.
claim his sentiments with unainching zeal,
even if the denunclations Of sn opposing
populace thunder 10 his ear. Such an edi.
tor will meet With many difficulties at the
outset. for be may be Que against many /;
but his enemies will soon begin to admire
bis frmness and bravery, aud If they are
not converted to bis belief, they will honor
him as an honest aud fearless advocate
admire an honest, outspoken, independent,
fearless editor one who is willing to take
counsel from Others, but who can neither
be persuaded by the smiles Of friends nor
frightened by the frowns Of the combined
host OF bis enemies. The influence of one
journal thus conducted, is greater than a
score of such as pander to whatever inter.
est may be dominant 10 the sphere Of their
circulation.
There is, however, a class Of independent
editors. whom / as heartily condemn. They
are 80 independent that they refuse to take
sides on all the great questions Of Of public
interest. Their motto reads thus rHeu.
trail in Politics and Religion !" What a
gress absurdity No man can occupy q
neutral position on those important subjects.
without offending, not only the sentiments
of an enlightened public but the Be.
ing who created him. The position is ut
terly untenabe in moral sense, and an at
tempt to reconcile it withthe spirit oi
this progressive age, would end in hope
less lunacy. Call me an imbecile. fling the
charge of ignorance in my face. do anything
to humble me in the eStimstion.of my fellow
men. but dou't, from respect 70 common hu
manity, say thpt am neutral editor tha;
I shrink from the discussion of those great
principles which tend to elevate man, and
hide my cowardice under the fimsy shield
of neutrality Such position is contrary
to the instincts of either sex, aud involves
the questiod whether such man is moi
really of the-nsuter geTdsTi