The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-02-08
IMPERsoNALITY IN JOURNALISM


Now and then an editorial article appears in
these columns which, for come reason, strikes
the public attention with special ioree-and there
upon We frequently hear speculations as TO who
wrote il, and sometimes We are met by the direct
and inquisitive querist, who thinks that he may
be safely entrusted with the interesting secret.
Now this Journal has responsible publishers,
whose names stand prominently at the head of
tie first column on the first page, but no Ostensi-
ble declared editor. 1t Processes and intends to
publish the public opinion Of the English speak
ing and reading community of this Kingdom
Of a certain class that cannot be very precisely
defined and needs not, as if we were now issuing
the prospectus Of a new paper, but which in
eludes as We believe, a large majority Of that
community and it's best people,-and to be for
them, both here in the country and abroad, an
organ of progress and of just and liberal views on
all subjects of public interest. Without subsidy
from the Government, or from capitalists in any
special manufacturing, commercial or political
interest, it is supported by the general public,
and exists for and by that public. If it were to
drop out OF existence, although its advertisements
and local news were to be incorporated in the
only other English weekly here, and carried to
all our present readers, there would be felt 1T
once the want OF such an organ Of public opinion.
In saying this we are making no pretensious boast
Of ability in our work, but simply asserting that
at present we ale supplying u certain demand,
and that demand is for an Independent press. We,
in one degree, in this small community, are
equally entitled to claim to be the voice of public
opinion, with all the weight of impersonal jour-
r.1farn a = ara tho ROD far ~ Of urao for r,
m~unities.
1t is always one individual pen that at last
expresses that which passes for the sentiment of a
great party, perhaps of a nation. Take the
leading journals of Great Britain-less than a
score in number-and say if their voice upon any
subject is not infinitely more significant than that
of the individual writers of the articles. And il
they were known, could the effect be neutralized
by the consideration that this was merely the
opinion of the few men, in private and perhaps
humble station, who print what they have
thought? No. The power Of the Fourth
Estate which is almost the arbiter of peace and
war among the greatest and frecst nations, cannot
be ciphered out to nothing by such reduction tc
individuals.
Here in this country, it is n disadvantage Of
] JOhlA hiAioh Niut " DON 10 CO =
and by everybody, that there is ever a strong
tendency to go back from the article to the
writer, to consider him personally, and if the
matter is unpalatable, to charge him with motives
or dismiss him with a general verdict of contempt
for what he says. Such is the tendency, and il
We permitted ourselves to make the paper the
vehicle of private views, feelings and interests, as
distinguished from that public sentiment which
we profess to represent and partly to form, partly
to follow, we should fall out of place as Journal
lists.
The writer's for our columns may be those who
are seen daily employed about our premises, and
there may be others not SO attached. Editorial
articles may be produced in form by occasional
help, or the material for them may be thus fur
nished, in a more or less complete state, in
writing or in conversation, and with or without
the knowledge of the party furnishing it that he
is SO contributing. Seeking to be the organ of
the public, we become the conduit of many
streams. With open ear we gather in the mind
Of the time and give it voice, and as our utter
ance is a~djudged to be true, to be reasonable,
judicious and right, whether we praise men and
things and measures, or criticise or condemn
them, in so much are we more than an individual,
and speak with the authority of the collective
public.
In exalting the power of public opinion, every
man exalts himself, for it is n power i'll which he
has a part just in proportion to his weight of
character. No man can afford to despise it
because he is in high position, nor to evade it by
denying its real existence in every particular
when it is against him. Does it sound trite to
say this? 1t is not very long since it was the
regime here to deny or ignore it. Thank God, a
better day is come. Let US then all try to build
up a sound, pure and wise public opinion, and
hcarkcn defcrentially to its voice, whenever and
by whatsoever expressed.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC