Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-24
JOURNALS.

produce, or a manufacturer or artist
specimens of his skill in mechanics
and the arts ON sale, he does well to
advertise them through the Press that
the world at large may know the fact,
and come and buy. We think, how
ever, the case of the public newspaper
is a little different from this.
observe that some of our cotem-
poraries have begun to advertise
themselves as the "leading' journals
Of the State. This smacks rather too
much of quackery for our taste. 1t is
as if a dentist, a physician, or a mer-
chant or mechanic should say to the
public that he was superior to his
neighbors, engaged in the same call
ing. The community in which a
Journal is published should be pre-
sumed very well able to learn that SUI
periority, without any large boasts
about it. Generally that which is
really the best of the daily journals,
the people seem to know pretty well,
without any other advertisement
than that which a daily reading COM
pels, no matter how unpretendingand
modest may be the newspaper they
read, and no matter how obscure the
authors of the matter it contains. We
have seen many instances in which
Generals, eX-Senators and other Off
Gals of high standing have been
gagged in the public press, in the hope
that their names would give eclat TO
such journals and thus increase their
circulation. And our observation has
been that, with rare exceptions, such
policy has proved fruitless, and often
a singular failure. Give the reader
day by day well prepared or well Sc
Iected food, and he will be satisfied,
no matter who is the author. The
profession of editor is one that cannot
be successfully taken up i'll a day,
with assurance of large success, even,
by men of great talents, without the
prerequisites of a peculiar aptitude,
as to which not a few such
men fall short. II is the mat
ter which the journal contains,
and not the reputation, which, other
wise than as editors, its producers
may possess, that is the ordinary
foundation of success. The world is
fuller of men of common sense than
some persons suspect, and hewhO pos
sesses it in the largest degree, and can
write out of his WI bosom the
thoughts which most fill the minds of
others in a cruder state, will most
meet the public appreciation, whether
in fact he have much or little reputa-
ton. He will gradually attain in
huence, and, with good Judgment and
industry, have a controlling power
over public opinion. His journal thus
becomes a "leading journal" not be-
cause of his popularity, Or reputation
for learning, for talents, or gallantry,
or other personal virtue, but because
it is a useful institution, and becomes
a recognized desideratum in a COM
munity.
No such reputation or influence can
be built up in a day. 1t cannot be re-
tanned without merit. 1t may be lost
by indolence or indiscretiGn, and it will
never be a leading power anywhere
without being a self-sustaining one.
1t is selfsustaining in the very fact of
its unremitting merit. And such a
Journal managed with spirit aud en-
terpFise will become a " leading jour
nal" without all boasts, all adver-
tisements of itself, and all sei~fasseFtlon
of superiority. By no such means
can a leading journal be built up. 1t
is a proud pre-eminence which none
should presume to claim immodestly,
even when never so well deserving.
And it is a pre-eminence which will
no more bear a bOastful and selfpre-
tentious display than would the merit
of an IRVING, an AGASSIs or a HEN
RY.
The profession of editor, hOnOrably
and ably followed, is one of honor,
as highly respected in this country as
any other profession. And We desire
that the honor of the profession shall
be sustained as the best means to the
good of all. He that viii not treat his
professional brethren with respect
drags down his own profession, which
il is rather his duty to build up.