The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-10-17
WHO EDITS YOUR pApERq


formation they seek 1t is either this, or they
do not really understand the nature of the
question they ask Possibly they design to
ask the question Who writes the editorials
Tor the Day Book z or, who is the principal
writer on the paper? If this is what they
mean, it certainly is not conveyed in the Dues
non. ''who edits your paper?' A writer enl-
ployed on newspaper cannot be fairly term
ed the editor, though he may write most of the
leading articles in the paper. Supposing there
is really an editor announced in the paper, then
1t is fair to class all other regularly employ
ed writers on that paper, as writers, or those
belonging to the editorial corps of the paper
In our view of the case, the editor OF paper
may not write a line for its columns, and still
be strictly its editor His duties in other de-
partmentB'of the paper may be the most one
rous OF any i'll the esta blishment; he NAV
WELD the most trenchant pen employed on
thepaper but his EDITORIAL duties may never
permit him to write line Does this make
him less the editor of the paper? Because he
does not, or cannot, df You please,) write all
the articles or any OF them that appear in his
paper, is he less its editor? We think not.
1t might be an apt illustration of what an
editor is, to say that he is the head devil of
the paper--the one who gets all the abuse and
but little Of the praise for what appears in
his paper This Illustration, we must admit,
forms rather painful portion OF our exper-
ence Iii the editorial line .t5lss
Since we commenced the reissue of the
Day Book, we have, been frequently approach
ed by persons who are fond of the aqua to,tis
style Of editorials, COTTON off by some few of
our Southern cotelnporaries, and asked why
we don't publish slashing editorials on passing
political measures and men 'Pitch in, right
and left and give EN- goss Don't spare any
Of EN-. Give it to al--from the President
down. The people like to have paper with
that kind of life that will not spare the SER
want them to, &c"
We thank you, Mr.. Agua Forts We have
had quite enough of that kind of thing in our
day, and don't care to indulge at all, at present.
We prefer to edit the Day Book in our own
quiet way, just now, and if your penchant is
so great for the strong things you seem to
crave, we shall have no objection to your try
ing to satisfy it elsewhere. We determined
from the time Of the surrender of the Confed-
crate forces, to devote ON best energies to the
restoration OF peace in the most christian ac-
eeptation of that terln-peace and reconcilia-
ton between those who have been the bitterest
Of enernies-and we believe from the eviden-
ees before lis, and from the success our
paper has met with, that we have pursued the
right course, so far We have no desire to
"pitch into any body, much less those who
have SO great a responsibility upon their hands
as the authorities now ruling over lis have,
whether those authorities be civil or military
Let us reflect q little on this point. Those
who are nov in authority have enough respon-
sibility and trials besetting them, to govern
and adjust the various ianing interests which
the war has created they need all the wis
dom and prudence Of patriots and statesmen
Are they earnest men, Do they really desire
our country's good II they do, it is all we
wish to know They have our whole heart in
their noble work. We shall always stand
ready to cheer their correct actions, and la
mept. their wrong ones We know they are
gallible, and, like all of us, liable sometimes to
err We think, so far, they have done well
and are thankful for the light that has guided
them on their new and untried course r
Then, surely, we have no cause to complain
OF them Who, then, shalt we Il pitch into, -
10 satisfy you, Mr.. Aqua Forts Would you
like us to take our editorial poker and run it
up to the hilt into the seething and cracking
furnace Of the fanatics and malcontents on
both sides of the great political question which
has already drenched our land in blood We
prefer to do no such thing, When men de-
sire to put out fire they do not keep stirring
it and adding fresh fuel We are in earnest
when We say We want peace and we believe
the great work of reconciliation goes bravely
On, and is only impeded if impeded at all, by
those who think they accomplish much by
stirring up that fanaticai element, which, if
totally ignored, would die out speedily, and
leave the work of restoration easy for our
rulers.
We edit our paper We, whose name APP