The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-07-08

peace or terrible harb1nger OF war-aS
portable, explosive magazine of gly-
cerenic power, operating among suscep-
tible materials, -the press has no peer
or even challenge of rivalry. Like the
Illuminating compounds, it is both use
full and dangerous.
Though the press has reached IA 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 It's 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 clarifying its capabilities, we
should not underrate the effects of the
sins 1t has committed, OF the evils IT
may, underth superintendency of vice,
accomplish. In the employ of bad
men of mercenary aims, the press be-
comes scorpion, that infuses it's poi
son into the arterial blood of society,
|
tracted by the best efforts of virtuous
agents; and happily we have an anti
dote III the well conducted press, that
extracts the virus before it takes fatal
effect.
In Justice to profession that is SO
universally honqred for the substantial
good 1t dlspenses, it is due to observe
that the fraternity of to-day is cursed
with but few absolutely pernicious
members. Without attempting to draw
invidious distinctions, it may be as
serted, truthfully, that scarcely any
human occupation furnishes 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 a 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
everything done or contemplated by
ones party or p0rtiS0ilS, and denounc-
ing eUeyythinG and all members of the
opposition, not only advertises 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
Ga l. .,,J-
task to make an independent mind be
heve that palpable aCr012g is qualified
right, even though the assurance may
emanate from the highest dome Of the
press, and be CARRIED in the most plausible
sophistry. Honesty is no less the chest
policy In promulgating religious, moral
or political ideas, and dlffusing therec-
ords of passing events, than III CONNER
cial transactions, and he who ignores this
axiom, does it at the peril of solled 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 is good,
| but the abuse IS dangerous, to say the
least. The partisan editor should not
only "believe III his own opinions, p"
but he should scrupulously challenge
others to test their Soundness by the
standard of his own arguments, and
/ when logic and facts fail him, 1t is but
the better part of valor to beat a re
treat for more tenable grounds. Every
/ time the r.end.-r etatooes him IN false,
/ logic and sophistical subterfuges, or in
uutruthful statements, lie feels the
! force of the classical warning, cuUe0t
! c0yteHt, and he loses confidence, and III
exact ratio to the readers loss of conf
dcnce is the editors loss of influence.
A mere partisan sheet, that auctions its
manhoo IN the advocacy o eUeyything
its partisan cohorts may say or do,
right or wrong, will seldom grow opu-
lent on the income of its 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 printers ink,
most developed in the Ildepeadent
Press. To be Independent need not
clash with efficient partisanship, but to
be over Obsequlous to ones own par
tisans, and contemptuous to his oppo-
nents, destroys respect III the former
and inspires contempt Ill the latter
case. Professional politicians are
sometimes like vicious horses they re
spect the lash OF their masters, but IN
variably kick and "throw" the towards
who fear them.
1t 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 "fast 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 a 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 a letter.
/ to the people, which might have met
the eyes OF score of interested
partisans, and then degenerated into
mere hear-say,' to be varied
according to the treacherous memory,
or caprice of 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-
lions blazing from the press, 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
Romish ruler or Judean high priest