The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-24
= COLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, April q, 1857.
Journalism.


ture and criticism. we have not re.
ceived it for some time past among
our exchanges, but we occasionally
read extracts from it on various topics,
which are well worthy of attention.
SOne of it's recent articles is upon the
"Standard of Journalism, and has
some excellent points in it deserving
of note, and which, if needed, would
exercise o happy and wholesome in
fuence upon the press of the coun-
try; and especially are such sugges-
tions as it makes applicable to the
Journals in the metropolitan cities Of
tie North. $ 'te .
One point that it malzes-and with
which we agree-is that, in the main,
the esteem in which editors are held,
depends upon themselves, and not
upon people, however eminent, who
are exterior to the profession. The
editorial calling is second to no other
practiced in this country in impor-
tance and dignity, and respectable
editor is surely, any day, the superior
of trading politician. And we fully
agree with the Round Table, when
the press will at once and in combi-
nation awaken to just sense of the
elevation, the influence and respon-
sibility of their functions; when they
cease to truckle to politicians, how
ever influential, and make these men
feel they cannot control the press in
the interest of corruption; when they
resolutely determine to speak truth
without fear or favor about the ex-
listing abuses of our system, whether
in common council, State Assemblies
or q National Legislature, then, and
not till then, will the profession of
the journalist rise to its true level,
and command the respect to which it
is intrinsically entitled.
All this is very true, and very just
iy describes what the press in free
country ought to be. But the sage
and competent critic of the Round
Table should remember that the glow
ing descriptions of that happy time
yet to come-the millenium-repre-
sent the condition of society just
what it ought to be; but, until that
time does come, we may expect to
see fallible, if not corrupt, journal
lists, as we'll as corrupt politicians,
and we do not expect journalism, in
this or any other country, to reach
perfection until that glorious era
breaks upon us. Nevertheless, there
can be closer approximation to "the
standard" laid down by our cotem-
porary. There is too much trucking
to, not only politicians, but to many
others who ore presumed to occupy
positions of influence. There is too
much timidity-too great fear of
loss Of patronage" IAN abominable
word, when applied to q public jour
nal)-constantly hanging around, like
an incubus, in newspaper Office. If
a journalist is printer to q common
council, he too frequently imagines
that, in order to retain the position
and its emoluments, he must over
look oil shortcomings, or even mis-
doings, of the members or their
officials. If he is printer to Legis-
lature, he must not only close his
eyes to oil log-rolling and nice little
bargains for jobs under legislative
cnactments, but he must forbear
even to criticise too severely their
public acts, be they ever so unwise,
or the vote which made him State
printer to-day may turn him out to-
morrow. From long connection
with journalism, and its attendant
duties and responsibilities, ue hnow
this 10 Je a fact
OF course, under these circum-
stances, and SO long rs the field OF
journalism is SO sterile in its pecu-
mary returns, in q legitimate way,
true independence in its management
is myth that we will look in vain to