The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-05-10
JOURNALISM.
Party Organs and independent Jour-
naiiSm.

From .ftitsisN isdd's LeetureI
1t is an ill day for Journalism wher
| peoble don't care what the newspaper
say aesiust .hen. 1t is an Ill day fol
the country WHEN people DO care ant
cannot get their wrongs rs1-eased. !!
| will be better for both when justice |!
cheap and journalism is just. Ameri
can ioufn&l.srtt will. reach. its mos
commanding influence Hhen 1t post
nearly conceals its journalists. When
Sir Robert Peel retired from office and
wished 10 thank the editor of the
Tirres fgr the powerful support it had
given his so7Afhment, he could not
learn the EDITORS nalIo. 1h. name is
common in mems mouths no~, Hnd
the power has waned. In Paris they
get away as far as possible from the
habit Of their sad Island neighbOrs, and
every writer signs bis leading article.
But the average life of o Paris news
paper Is Under year, and q STEADY
journalistic Influence in Frauce seems
an impossibility. They have plenty OF
editorial office-holders, too, but the
newspapers are WORTHLESS. Wnen we
core to esteem the direction OF a great
newspaper tnS. kas seen a dozen ad-
mipistratiops rise and fall, s,,d may
out,ive many a dozen yet, as far higher
than any four years. office any admin
istr.tjon can bestow; when we rigOr-
ot1sly require that the man who wants
to hold Office
SHALL QUIT TRYING TO BE AN EDITOR,
and dsSots fiwself to his vocation |,
and when thefe Shall be 20 relatfons
Whatever between the government and
the press, save honest publicity on the
one hand, and candid criticism on the
other. our iol,fhsiis% will ct last have
planted itself on its true plane. The
most charming of recent publications.,
Arthur Helps new Thoughts upon
Government goes further still in words
that deserve the profound attention OF
any young man proposing to himself
future in neWspapei5. III a1s part OF
the press,' he says, "enters into close
alliance with any great political party,
that part of the press
loses Mich. OF IT'S INFLUENCE;
for the puoiic desire tie tt..c.s to repre-
sent its views and wishes, and does
not delight in manifest advocacy on
behalf of political parties. Then comes
the question Whist should be the rela-
ton between the press and Inc g5T-
eminent. Before all things these rela-
tions should not be slavish on either
side. They should, If possible, be
friendly, and, Mt any rate. shohld be
just.n There at last we have it? .
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM!
That il the watchWOrd of the future in
the profession. An end of conceal
ments because tine truth would hurt
the party; an end Of one sided exposi-
tions because damaging things itiust
only be allowed against our antagO-
nists an end Of assaults that are not
believed fully just, but must be made
because the exigepccyy VI party warefare
demands them; an end of ISLANDERS
that are known to be ISLANDERS, but
must not be exploded because 1t would
hurt the party; an end of hesitation to
print the news in newspaper because
it may hurt the party; an end of
ALL HALF-TRUTHs AND HEsITATEQ
LIEsi
an end of public contccmpt for the voice
Ihat barks an approval to Sir Oracle,
ano amusement and learning and re-
igipn q Ike keeps ever 0arking only this:
am hi- highness' dog at Kew;
fraV ,e,l me, sir, whose dog are
90 p,-an end, as Emerson has taught
ne the happy phrase, at once of official
ord officinai ] journalism that isthe boon
to which every perpIexed, conscientious
n,en,ber of the profession, new and
benificent declaration of independence
affords. Under it journalism expands
i'm balanced and unfettered develop
ment, ceases to be one sided iD us Facts,
becomes the master aud not the tool OF
the marty. tells the whole truth, COM
maids the general confidence, ceases
to be the advocate, rises to be the judge.
To that passionless ether We may not
from these partisan struggles soon as
cend; but if not the nearer 1t Is at least
the certain future Of successful ana
honored journalism.