The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-01-17
REQUISITES OF AN EDITOR.


The discussions that for few days
interested the newspaper world about
Colfax and the editorship of the New
York Tribune, excited much wonder
among certain classes at the idea of
one holding SO exalted a position
contemplating voluntary descent
from it to accept editorial charge OF
public journal. It may be refnem-
bered by those who have felt the Gu
riosity to delye into the obscnrity OF
Mr.. Colfax's antecedents, that he
went from the humble Office OF a
country journal in Indiana, through
the gentle gradient of few terms
in the House of Representatives.,
into the Vice-Presidency. Whether,
therefore, the proposed movement,
il it had been consufnmated, would be
o condescension, or further elesa-
ton, is q question about which il
may not be necessary to express any
opinion; it might reasonably be in
ferred from the Vice-President's con-
senting to the negotiations with the
Tribune peddlers of Greeley's old
clothes that he considered the place
he was offered in the editorial chair
as of equal dignity; and that the
scruples he entertained were merely
Of pecuniary nature-he could OBJ
tain better wages in another situa-
ton. But, as the Boston Globe re-
marks, the facts in the case, howey-
er we view them, are an Endorsement
of the respectability of the Journalists
tic profession, whether such indorse-
ment was or was not needed.
In country like ours the impor-
tance of its public press can hardly
be oyer-estimated. The press has
been called expressively "the third
estate of the realm;" but truer
aphorism with us would be "the
first estate of a republic" Still
whatever may be said on this point.
whether the remark be true or not,
it is matter of satisfaction 10 all
who are interested in journalism to
know that as profession it is, 20
some extent, properly understood
and appreciated. 1t has been said
that Grant has had some acquain-
tance with type setting; but with his
known reticence on all, and assumed
ignorance of most, subjects, it must
have been evident that he would
never make successful editor. To
say nothing of Ben. Franklin or
Horace Greeley, as their education
and eminence are so generally recog-
niZed, it is very certain that very
many distinguished men in our coun-
try, now as III times past, have grad
uated from the editorial room, hav.
ing reached it by regular advance
ment through the composition and
press-room of the printing Office
The late Secretary of the War De
partment, Senator Simon Cameron
of Pennsylvania-not that we are al
all proud of his former connection
with the calling do we mention hin
gave some years ago graphic do
scription of his progress through /:
printing Office and final escape from
the press-room, and was at that tim,
wearing the form of an old Franklil
printing press upon his seal ring.
large number of members of Con
gress, writer's, historians and novel
lists, foreign Ministers and Cabine
officers, have been connected witt
the editorial chair; and the press to
day, in the Atlantic States and espe
cia!ly throughout the great western
portion of the Union, is largely il
the hands and under the control @
practical printers rather than colleg
students or college graduates.
Indeed it is not the .profoun,
scholar, the critically correct write
and classical student, who makes th
J best editor. Such men will inevita
bly, fail if they attempt it, for it j
not their vocation. lis promptness
ready ability, rapidity of thought AM
of action, the power to instantly ere
J ate and to properly analyze, togethe
with untiring application, whichforn
, the requisites of the editorial chair
Men quite able to produce a charm
: ing and profound essay would mos
likely stumble over an editorial para
! graph at the first step. They lac
) the requisite training and facility
i Good education, a refined taste
f keenness of observation. with COO
ness of Judgement, freedom fror
E prejudice and discriminating impal
tiality, and q forcible command {
language, are positive requisites t
, form an able and successful editor
/ who. perhaps after all. is rather Dor
thus than made so by any after pr
E cess. And our experience and oil
, servation, if not so very large {
keen, have taught US that there al
, none too many in the profession /
journalism. who possess all the rec
uisites essential to a frst-class editt
or editorial writer.-Esramine1...
Q MAKE HINf PAY