The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-05-20

10 - v0O bSOOsz ~ v, ut-
esally, the voice Of one 0at cries
n the soilAssnaes; for. Ill across
the populous land the daily papers
speak, and there 10 not in modern
eivilizasion . place Of power that
can compare with this -.
Rev. De Witt Talmsge once said:
"ln ths clanking OF the printing
press. - sheets fly out, hear the
voice of the Lord Almighty, pro
claiming to oil the the desd nations
Of the earth: Lazarus, come forth!
and 70 the retreating surges of
darkness: Let there be light
The minister, indeed, sometimes
goes forward and throws what good
seed be may have over into that
uncsssain place which We call the
next hfe.' But Is not that the
next life which is nearest to u.s.
the one which circles in rapid ed
dies, or sweeps in strong currents
oil around us? Does not the fur
row, which Time is even now turn
ing. run forward into the Everlast
ine7 and shah We ever find any
thing more real than this life,
which throbs all about us-in the
shops, sbd upon the streets, in
in stores and in churches, at eau
cuses and the polls7
To desl with all these mixed
and incoDgraoas elements, SO IS
to hold an influence. over ALTO
present the varying phases Of life.
and promote the many interests OF
tho community to witch he speaks
lie the work OF the capable, con,
scientious editor. "The ideal news.
paper 10 . succession Of photo
graphs of the world in which VIC
live. with such thoughts about each
picture 40 may inform, interest,
elevste. and rightly influence 9TH
ers. The first thing necessary is
to secure . good picture, and then
to have some ideas about II worth
reading"
| Neither brilliant genius nor pro.
found learning can alone produce
such . paper as this; for behind
these, and more indispensable than
either, there must be strong COM
mon sense. and q quick, instinc;-
i've apps eciation Of public taste and
public opinion. The successful
editor must understand what the
whole people want to read, and not
what will please or interest one
class only. He must understand
what phases of opinion he
has to deal With; must know in
stinctively how different classes of
Of men will regard this or that
event; what errors and preiudices
affect the judgments of men, end
what suggestions will resch their
minds. In . word. the science in
which the journalists, above all
other men, must be proficient, is
the science of human nature, and
the knowledge which he most needs
is knowledge Of human life.
There are two classes of news
paper publishers whom the rapid
growth and ambitious spirit of the
West have done much TO enc -ur-
age, hut who are now, happily,
growing beautifully less / mean
first. those who look upon a news.
paper % . money-making power.
and care more for tax-lists than
they do for truth. A paper. like
any other business. requires good
business management; but the ledg
or must not lie on the editors ia.
BILE, nor his opinions be controlled
by the condition Of his cash-book
The other class to which I allude
may be called journeymeu publish
ers, Or paper peddlers In my boy
hood l knew some journeymen tai
lors, who. with . goose and press
board, roved from house to house,
seeking . job They not inaptly
represent some newspaper pub.
fishers, who, with a few hundred
dollars invested in press and
type, roam from one town to an.
other, stopping in each only lonl
enough TO expend the bonus which
has been given them as q condition
OF their stay. The ambition of ev
cry little town 10 have q newspa
per, has contributed much to en-
courage inefficient men to under
take the work OF publication. ant
iu this manner Journalism has beel
dehased. and support withdraw
from papers which are really wor
thy Of patronage.
But Il is fortunately becomin.
more true every day that q journa
can obtain desirable Influence onl,
by deserving it. Partisan appeal
and personal vituperation will NJ
longer be accepted in tho place o
reasonable discussion and legiti
mate criticism. The people realize
in good degree, that the Press Q
America is its hope, its prophe,
and its guardian; and they demand
that ito conduct shall realize tn
same fact "The responsibilitie
Of the Press hive grown with it
power. They are of the larges
and most delicate character. The
appeal TO it TO rise above til
coarseness, the personality, Il,
wantonness that have marked it
past, and still mar its present.
They invite it to the highest plan
OF moral elevation, Of intetlectus
capacity, Of conscientious courag,
They encourage it to lead the pee
pie and the nation out Of the toll
OF corrupt and selfish men. In gov
ernment, In business, and in soc