Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-10-25

life are blasted by the scurrilous wit, or
wanton spite of an editor antagonist,
suffers a wrong as fragrant as If the
writer committed violente on his per-
son or violated his home. Some of the
more affective experiences of men who
toll ardently for their race come in
this way-experiences which, consider
ing the fact of their benevolent inten-
tibns, only the most resolute spirit can
patiently bear. The liberty of the
press Is one of our most sacred rights,
as Is the liberty of speech--but he can
lay little claim to true manliness who
will cover himself with the shield of
editorial impersonality, while direct
ing poisoned shafts at one whom he
dare not meet face to face. Whenever
a worthy name is maligned and an
honorable character made odious, the
community that shares in the good
mans reputation is insulted, good NOR
ais are outraged, and christianity put
to shame. Evil OUGHT to be assaulted
without mercy, the higher the place
and the larger the advantage of the
criminal, the less reaso that he should
be spared-but to make worthy actions
ridiculous, to associate manly virtues
with disreputable arts, to stigmatize
noble lives with dishonorabie motives,
Is an occupation that ought to be re-
garded as beneath the ambition of re-
spectacle editor; The glory of the press
Is in Its unprejudiced judgments, its
championship Of defenceless virtue, its
sympathy with all honorable aims, and
the alacrity with which it hastens to
espouse the cause of humanity under
all circumstances and in every place.
Let the press once degenerate into a
vehicle of bitter personal hostility and
unreasoning partisan rancor, and it
becomes a terrible curse to mankind.
The words which should be of the an
gel are transformed into those of de-
mon. The securities of prosperous and
honorable citizehship are overthrown.
The hand that should guard the virtu-
Gus becomes the sword that thirsts for
their destruction. s.s .......s -
INJUDIcIoUs PRAISE.
But indiscreet praise Is sometimes al
most rs injurious as undeserved censure.
Inspired by commendable desire TO
serve useful ends, persons aud things
are often applauded by the press In
language which, to critical ears, is, to
say the least, exceedingly inappropri-
ate. FiatterinC obituary notices of nor
sons distinguished by no eminent quail
ibles OI SGINiCtS, Vi uLl-
proved utensils and universal panaceas,
panegyrics of individuals seeking noto-
riety for private ends, laudations of
publications and performances of n
questionable kind, all puffery that the
enlightened sense of the community
instinctively disproves, ought not to oc-
cupy I'm journals space that could be
made to serve the important interests
of the living. ... .--
Editors have been known to express
rs much admiration for strolling play
ers as for the historionic talent of kean
or a Ristori-as profound admiration
and satisfaction with the efforts of Or
dinary takers, as with the elaborate
eloquence of Webster or an Everett,
and to applaud the effusions of some
scribler in the same language that they
would use to delineate the mas ter efforts
of Bancroft or Bryant. Exag-
gerated praise finally defeats its own
end. After little the people know
just what value to put upon it, and it
loses the desired effect. am persuaded
that i'm this matter there is room for
Improvement, which could easily be
made by q little more patient industry
and investigation. Where the same
set of words and phrases of approval
are given to literary, political, military
or scientific performances, no margin is
left for just discrimination, and the
proper characterization of that which
IL truly excellent and commendable, an
erroneous impression is produced res
pecting the comparative merits of indi-
viduals, and the standard of taste and
criticism is lowered in the community.
To paint an inferior performance in
colors appropriate to superior excel
lence, to portray commonplace ability
i'm terms suited to the most command
ing talent, ID manifestly unjust to the
deserving, and weakening 10 the infiu-
ence of the press ITSELF III we call
every beast h lion, when the lion comes
there will be few present to welcome
and admire his kingship. Merit ought
to receive honest praise, and that criti-
cism which proves useful and effectuai
must be dictated by serious corrections,
and an enlightened understanding. In
these days of travelling montebanks,
itinerating quacks, and professors
U quote that word) of all sciences aud
and arts, and of every thing else, the
editorial fraternity cannot be too care
full how they countenance the preten-
sions of those whom the people learn
to regard as fools and kHaves. The se-
cret of strong and lasting influence is
to give no commentators but those
grounded on accurate knowledge, good
sense and a proper regard of the public
good.
IMPROPER ADVERTISEMENTS.
And this leads me to the considera-
tion of topic which / cannot omit,
though IL be repulsive, in which the
well-being of society Is profoundly con-
cerned. / refer to the subject of inn
proper advertisements. While one of
the uses of the press Is to facilitate COM
mercial transactions by putting men in
easy communication with each other,
and while tile advantage of such con-
veuience cannot well be over estimated,
IL is notorious that this instrument of
good may be foully prostitutod. The
greed and passions of the unprincipled
reach such shameless pitch as to lead
them to employ the readiest means to
secure their ends. So, often, under the
cover of attractive names, tiiehdaci6us
testimonials, humane and virtuous pre-
tentions, and delusive promises, are
set forth, advertisements reek with the
odor of the filthiest resorts of infamy.
There are papers circulating in respec-
table quarters i'm whose columns the
reader may learn the diagnosis Of detes-
table vices. the way to the resorts Of
basest RIGHTEOUSNESS, and receive en-
couragement and solicitations to the
most unnatural crimes. In fact, there
is hardly monstrUsity of immortality
that does not cunningly seek to accom-
plish its designs by using the enormous
facilities of the press.
A year or two since there was pub
1ished In one of the most respectable
journals, an advertisement of striking
character, worded, however, with scru-
pulous propriety, which was the intro
duction to the knowledge of all infa-
mics that could corrupt youth, degrade
manhood and blast domestic and social
life. And this 10 only an illustration
of the methods used by the mercenary
and licentioss for making the journal