American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-02-13

frog and OK will constantly reeur
but filling the allotted space with
judicions selections, adapted to the
general taste writing a well.digest
ed article upon some subject of polit-
ical OF local interest, and in no case
the useful by an undue
quantity of the graceful or amusing,
seems to me the most iudicious way
of conducting what is generally
styled a country newspaper. Every
neighbor should feel himself called
upon, and acknowledge the call by
responding. to contribute his mite
to every issue, and duly inform the
editor, who often has to do his own
work, of any circumstance or occura
renee that may have transpired with
in his knowledge and not yet attain
ed general circulation. This will be
found of great assistance and may
be used to advantage. ....
The expediency of having men of
intellect, discrimination. information
and Judgment at the head of the
newspaper press, is apparent to all
who for a moment consider the vast
responsibilities that dsvolved upon
an editor. In great measure he is
the arbiter of taste, and is the custo-
dian of the mcIals of community.
In this respect he may not have the
same responsibility as the divine who
has the government of his flock, and
carefully directs them to avoid the
snares and pitfalls to which human
steps are liable, but he has broad
mission, to urge and inculcate prin-
ciples whose exercise will rebound
to their moral and intellectual health,
and prevent innovations that must
result i'll disaster and may terminate
in ruin. No man is, or should be,
more entitled to the respect and con-
tidence of society. He stands, as it
were, in the public presence, and
while he freely discusses great ques-
tions, and questions involving in
dividual differences, his own motives
are narrowly scratinized, and not
seldom impugned. 1t is thus, that
to be suited to his position he must
be selfsustaining and reliant, and
to WELD the influence it should be
his aim to exercise, he must be, q" like
Casar's wife, above suspicion"
1t may be imagined that l have
assumed more of the didactic than is
meet and proper in this essay, and
have gone beyond my proper pre-
T gative; but / have aimed to he
practical, and read lesson that may
be beneficial to some of my younger
friends who have not had the advan
t,ge of much experience who have
regarded the life of an editor as one
of pastime and enjoyment, without
looking much beneath the surface
and have considered the newspaper
as the mere medium of his whims
and caprice, without weighing the
potency with which it may be WELD
ed for good or for evil.
A first class newspaper has in {
great degree, concentrated in itselt
that broad and comprehensive range
of reflection which was once confined
to books, pamphlets and elaborat,
essays. 1t is the great teacher, ga
thering and illustrating the expert
ences of the past and prospecting fol
the future. tits like map of events
where every occurrence may be tracet
to its origin, and matters Otherwis,
mysterious, made perfectly plain
Te do this successfully requires tn,
employment of numerous minds
suited to the several departments il
which they labor, filled with the lor,
of the past, and skilled in the happ,
art of ready composition and compi
lation. Attractiveness is not alway
born of novelty, but may be wrOugh
by placing facts in new light, ant
presenting them in a clear, distinc
form. 1t is well
ITO catch the living manners as they rise,"
and to lose no day in the full ant
thorough history thereof. A dull
plodding clod may not perceive I
single salient point, where a thou
sand suggestions will occur to tn
practical journalist. An orator i
said to be made by practice and stu
dy, and the poet to be naturally en-
} dowed, but it is very clear that nei
ther can attain great eminence with
out the exercise of his faculties, an,
undergoing the experience suitabl
to educe those qualities for which h
,, is to be distinguished. 1t is even S
with the journalist, who, besides ma
; turall gifts and high literary an
profound legal attainments, mus
undergo trying noviciate before b
can properly comprehend the multi
? farious duties he is called upon t
: discharge, and the rapidity wit
which the apparently most elaboI at
+ articles on difficult and different sui
iects must be prepared.
Since it must be conceded that I'll
: press is a most potent engine, it b
comes matter of great consequent
:, that it should be in competent, il
u telligent and honorable hands. 1t
q to elevate its tone and chaI acter thi
the Press Association of Mississip
IT was formed. That cannot be accoI
Is plished by admitting to full fello'
. ship such as have not shown the1
> selves entitled to membership,
u their standing in the community th'
g represent. Every editor should
. gentleman, distinguished for b
&c integrity, intelligence and hone
ol He should always aim at truth al
. never be willing for present adva
:, tage to bolster up falsehood, or fail
ss acknowledge an inadvertent wroI
VI In this way he inspires confident
and sooner or later his paper W
Id show that he enjoys it. By gent
is IN IN, | do not mean one who scor
$, labor as menial and to be avoided,
'e. labor is glorious, and the hands tt
ed are unwilling toperform such servi
ay as may at times be required, may
en long to the sloth and the drone, |
nd not to the nobleman of nature, W
is never above any part of his a
Id cation.
ID, In no department. of industry
ng there greater demand for system.
he make a first rate newspaper, requi
he the utmost care and constant att