Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-06-28

oms and -dogmas, and the dis,
/ seminator of partisan creeds ano
purposes-as the conduit of religious
and moral suasions-the chariot on
which private ambition rides to fame
or to fortune-as an itinerant, every
where present proselytor--as hot-bed,
where moral, religious, political, social
and scientific ideas are propagated for
the million-as the swift messenger OF
peace or terrible harbinger of war-as
portable, explosive magazine of gly-
cerenic power. operating among suseep-
tlble materials, the press has no peer
or even challenge of rivalry. Like the
Illuminating compounds, it is both use
ful and dangerous.
Though the press has reached high
round on the ladder of usefulness and
fame, it is destined to rise still higher,
and when it shall have reached an atti-
tude as high in moral tone and purpose
as it has already acquired in enterprise,
with its facilities for multiplying ideas,
as sea drifting sands are multiplied, it
will exercise more power over the affairs
of men than all the elective officers
and "birth-right" monarchs on this
planet.
In extolling the wonderful and va
ried good the press has accomplished
and glorifying it's capabilities, we
should not underrate the effects of the
Sins 1t has committed, OF the evils 1t
may, undert the superintendency of vice,
accomplish. In the employ of bad
men of mercenary aims, the press be-
comes a scorpion, that infuses it's poi
son into the arteIial blood of society,
and leaves sting that can only be ex-
tracted by the best efforts of virtuous
agents; and happily we have an anti
dote in the well conducted press, that
extracts the virus before it takes fatal
effect.
In justice to profession that is so
universally honored for the substantial
that the fraternity of to-day is cursed
with but few absolutely pernieious
members. Without attempting to draw
1nvldlous distinctions, it may be as
serted, truthfully, that scarcely any
human occupation furnishes a less rela-
tive number of "black sheep in the
flock" Indeed, the press, as the great
educator of public opinion, has raised
SO high the standard of editorial pro-
priety, and has SO clearly defined the
bounds of it's license, that publica-
ton obnoxious to truth and decency
soon dies for want of nourishment.
Still, there are grave faults hanging
to the skirts of many of the yclept pop
ular and respectable politico-partisan
and religio sectarian publications, that
challenge criticism, and require refor-
nation. The practice of endorsing
eUe1,ything done or contemplated by
ones party or 23Grtisot7as, and denounc-
ing everything, and all members of the
opposition, not only adyertises the
editors as bigoted or insincere, but de-
stroys the influence they might and
should exert over their readers, who
give birth to ideas and do their own
thinking.
Under the peculiar american license of
free thinking, it is wondrous difficult
task to make an independent mind be-
fieve that palpable aOrong is qualified
right, even though the assurance may
emanate from the highest dome of the
press, and be garbed in the hemostplausible
Sophistry. Honesty is no less the chest
policy Ill promulg eating religious, moral
or political ideas, and d1ffusing therec-
ords of passing events, than IN CONNER
cial transactions, and he whoignores this
axiom, does it at the peril of so1led man.
hood. a partisan editor should be a
strong, earnest and vigorous partisan.
There is nothing inconsistent with truth
or manly obligations in this. Like eat
ing and drinking, the privilege isgood,
but the abuse issdangerous, to say the
least. The partisan editor should not
only "believe in his own opinions, ;"
but he should scrupulously challenge
others to test their soundness by the
standard of his own arguments, and
when logic and facts fail him, it is but
the better part of yalor to beat re-
treat for more tenable grounds. Every
time the reader detects him in false
logic and sophistical subterfuges, or in
untruthful statements, he feels the
force of the classical warning, c0ue0t
c1nena, and he loses confidence, and in
exact ratio to the readers loss of conf
dence is the editors loss of influence.
A mere partisan sheet, that auctions it's
manhoo in the advocacy of everything
its partisan cohorts may say or do,
right or wrong, will seldom grow opu-
lent on the income of it's useful
ness, since no party or individual
can claim immunity from error. Hence
we see the greatest power of the Press,
or the useful effect of FPrinter's ink, !"
most developed in the Independent
Press. To be independent need not
clash with efficient partisanship, but to
be over obsequious to ones own par
tisans, and contemptuous to his oppo-
nents, destroys respect in the former
and inspires contempt in the latter
case. Professional politicians are
sometimes like vicious horses they re-
spect the lash of their masters, bn5 IN
variably kick and "throw" the towards
who fear them.
It requires bravery and high moral
attributes to always speak the truth of
partisan friends, whereas to utter dam
aging truths of our foes is not virtue,
for virtue abides not in choice, but in
the offspring of self-denial.
/ We live in 'Efast age"-all the bet
ter to develop the power and usefulness
of the press. We make and publish
more history every day than the pc
trarchs of Judea learned in life time.
When the kings and rulers of Palestine,
and the Roman Emperors announced
the DEGREES of the triumvirate, or the
will of the throne, they sent letter.
to the people, which might have met
the eyes of score of interested
partisans, and then degenerated into
mere "hear-say," to Iabe varied
according to the treacherous memory,
or caprice of s'madam Rumor." Official
bulletins often become thus absurdly
confused, for the want of the multiply
ing process. that enables the rulers Of
to-day to send their official fulmina-
tions blazing from hepress, multiplied
| to the full number who should read
them. Hence, we not only make, but
we multiply history and events to an
extent that would have impressed a
Romish ruler or Judean high Priest
with the highest theory of miracles. o1
I have thus merely alluded tosome of
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