Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-10-18


ted, is the good Of man, and il receives its
support chiefly on the ground Of its advan-
cling human utilities. !. should be conduct
ed, therefore, on the highest principles Of
honesty, candor and truth
The lof,iest IDEAL should be aimed a, in its
management, however imperfect may be its
practical realization. Embracing in lis
sphere 90 many interests, and dealing with
| questions % manifold and widely related,
| there is imperative demand for the largest
| intelligence, the best culture, the most sin
cere convictions, the most sterling integrity
Of character On the part Of those who con>
troll il. Even with mere mercerary consid>
era.ons in view, there is no permanent gain
IN any sacrifce Of principle OF suppressions
OF faithful couDsels. Outspoken convictions
are more profitable in the long run than
.emporizing sxpediency that truckles and
trims to every passing gale of opinion. There
is danger that for the sake of present popu.
larity, journal may be conducted with TOO
much reference 10 q dead couservatsm-
that il takes ito cue from thes opinions aud
prejudices Of . few Who ere Supposed to re-
feet the mind Of the multitude that j, aims
chiefly TO be palatable 10 lower phase Of in
tclligence and culture and neglects the dis
/
principles that are fundamental TO the vel.
fare ofthe individual OF The commonwealth. A
Journal conducted in this way may be ropw
lar, bu, it cannot be porerfM. In what
public Journal advocates, q love Of truth and
a desire to serve mankind should be supIeme.
1t must 60 before the masses ia the enun eia-
tion Of beliefs and the promulgation Of POI
litical and ethical doctrine, while it constant
iy keeps iu view their highes, interests. It
must dare to be singular, when to be COM
monp'ace would be to stultify It's professions
aud emasculate its strength. Never seeking
70 give offence, but untiinching 10 its main
tenance OF what 10 beliered 20 be right, Il
must love man we'll enough ia prom oting his
good to be willing 70 be called u times his
enemy.
LIBERTY AND LrcESTIousxEss OF rHE PREss.
The largest liberty must be claimed and
used in editorial management, but that lib-
erty should never degenerate into licensious.
ness. There 10 danger, Rrea: danger, that
| in the acerbities of political difference and
debate, in the enthusiasm of successful Jour.
nalism, in the tempting exposures Of . rival
or foe, the press may attack character in a
way that 10 morally dishonest, covanaly and
cruel. Some Of the most fatal injuries that
| character can receive from wanton and ven.
omous pens, are beyond the reach Of legal
redress. Even if redress be had, damages
| for some wrongs in the shape of money can
be no equivalent The honorable citizen
whose name is stained with unmerted obi.
um and whose prospects in life are blasted
| ~ the scurTilous Wit, or wanton spite Of IN
editorial antagonist, suffers . wrong as IA.
| grant ~ If the writer committed violence on
his person or violated his home. Some OF
the more affective experiences Of men Who
toll ardently tor their race come in this way
-experiences which, cousiderirg the fact Of
their benevolent intentions, only the most
fesolute spirit can patiently bear. The lib
erty OF the press is one Of our most sacred
rights, % is the liberty Of speeeh-but be
can lay little claim 70 true msnliness
Who will cover himself With the shield OF eds
sorial impersohality, while directing poison>
ID shatss At one whom he dare not meet face
70 face. Whenever . worthy name is ma
| ligned and IN honorable character msde odi-
ous, the community that shares in the good
mans reputation il insulted, rood morals
are outraged, and christianity is put to
shame. Evil ocGHr 70 be assaulted without
mercy. the higher the place and the larger
the advantage Of the criminal, the less rea-
son that he should be spared-but to make
| worthy actions ridiculous, TO associate man>
y virtues with dsrepusable arts. 10 stigma
tize noble lives with dishonorable motives,
10 an occupation that ought 10 be regarded
as beneath the ambition Of arespectable edi-
tor. The glory Of the press is in its unprei>
udiced judgments, its championship ct de-
fenceless virtue, its sympathy with al hon
orable aims, and the alacrity with which it
hastens to espouse tho easee Of humanity
under all circumstances and il every place.
Let the press once degenerate into . vehicle
Of bitter personal hostility and unreasonnR
partisan rsneor, and it becomes . terrible
curse to mankind. The words which should
be OF the angel are trans 'osmed into those
Of demon. The securities of prosperoas
and honorable citizenship are overthrovu.
The hand that should guard the virsuous be.
comes the sword that thirsss for their des.
tructon.
ISJrDieiors PRAISE.
But indiscreet praise Is sometimes almos,
- injurious IS undeserved ceusure. Iuspir.
ed By commendable desire 70 serve useful
ends, persons and things are often applaud>
ed BY the press in language which, TO criu>
cal ears, Is, to say the least, exceedingly in>
appropriate. Fiat,ering obituary notices Of
persona distinguished BY no eminent quail.
ues or services, commendations Of improved
utensils and universal panaeeas, panegyr;es
OF individuals seeking aotoriesy for private
ends, laudations of publications and Der.
tosnances ofa questionabls Kind, all pufiery
thas tie enlightened SEM of The eommpai,y
instinetively disproves, ought not to occupy
in Journals space that could be made 10
serve The important interest Of the living.
Eo'toss Aave been known to express a.
nneh admiration for stsolling players - for
shs hisrsoaic talsnt Of Kean or . Ristori
-es profound sdnisation and satisfaction
With the efforts Of ordinary talkers, - With
the elaborate cloquence Of Webster or On
Everett, aud TO applaud tn sGasions of some
scrshbler in the same language that they
would use to delineate the master efforts Of
Bancroft or : Bryant Exaggerated praise
finally defeats its own end. Aher 1 little
the people know just what value to pu, upon
It, and II loses the desired effect / m, per.
euaded that in this matter there Is room for
improvement, which could easily - made
BY a little more patient industry aud fnves.
| fisA.ion. Where shs same set Of words and
phrases Of approval are given to literary. no.
ltical, military or scientific perform snces
no margin is leff for Just ldiscsimius ton.
and the proper characterization Of that which
is truly excellent aad connaendabl~. an er.
roneous impression is produced rvspccsius
the comparative merits Of individuals. and
the stasdasd Of tasts and criticism Is :over>
ed in the community. To paint an inferior
persoxDsnse in co6ns ppropriate to superi.
or excellence, to portray common place sbil
ity in terms suited to The most com ma udinc
talent, is manifestly unjust to the deservine'
and weakening to the influence Of the press
itself II We call svery beast lion, when
the lion comes there will be few present To
welcome and Admire his kingshsp. Merit
ought 10 receive honest praise, and that crit
icism which proves useful and eiectual n us,
be dictated BY serious corrections, and an
enlightened upderstandipE, In these days
OF travelling montebanks, itinerating ouacis.
and professors" II quote that wordl of ali
sciences and arts, and Of everything ei,e. The
editorial fraternity cannot be too careful hov
they countenance the prctensious Of those
whom the people learn to regard as fool.
and knaves. The secret Of strong and last.
ing influence IS to Eiv~ no com sseadations
bu. those grounded on accurate knowledse.
good sense and proper regard of she pub
lie good. 49, ~
NPRorER ADvEKrfsexrxrs.
Aud this leads me to the consideration ef
sepk which csnnos emit thoaxh il =
fePaIsive, N which the ~slL being Of society